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Lake Travis Westlake Edition VOLUME 15, ISSUE 3 APRIL 20 MAY 20, 2024
The Lake Travis ISD mountain bike teams use various trails throughout the Lakeway area and supported the creation of beginner-friendly trails.
COURTESY LAKE TRAVIS MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM, TEXAS INTERSCHOLASTIC MOUNTAIN BIKE LEAGUE
$22M Lakeway parks, amenities bond upcoming in May
and fall in love with bikes ... the better for the team.” As a result, bike trails are one of many projects in Lakeway’s upcoming $22 million parks and ameni- ties bond going before residents in May, seeking to revamp the city’s public parks system and more.
As city leaders weighed changes to their parks plan in recent months, Girard and area biking athletes showed up in droves to advocate for more begin- ner-friendly trails in the community, Girard said. “There just aren’t really any places for kids to ride their bikes,” Girard said. “The more kids that get out
BY GRACE DICKENS & APRIL KELLEY
Less scrolling, more rolling–that’s one of the slogans for the Lake Travis Trails Coalition. Lakeway’s existing bike trail network is expansive but di cult, said Mike Girard, president of the LTTC and former Lake Travis ISD mountain biking coach.
CONTINUED ON 26
Also in this issue
Impacts: New ice cream shop opens o RM 620 (Page 8)
Education: LTISD board removes library book in split vote (Page 17)
Transportation: Texas to see more driverless semitrucks (Page 21)
Dining: Cho Sushi thrives under new ownership (Page 33)
Your superpower? Knowing where to go in an emergency. 24/7 emergency care, right here for Lakeway, Westlake and Lake Travis. Be a h ER o
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Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2024 Baylor Scott & White Health. 09-ATX-1006867 DT
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WE PROUDLY ENDORSE:
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We’re a local parent-led organization that supports candidates for the Lake Travis ISD School Board who share our values: Academic Excellence Safe Schools
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We work hard to ensure good school board candidates receive the support they need to win, and to pursue the pro-family values and policies that parents in the Lake Travis area expect.
Craig Cancienne PLACE 1 Christy Comfort PLACE 2 Early Voting: April 22-30 Election Day: May 4
Get involved, find out about events, and invest in our childrens’ future at LakeTravisFamiliesPAC.org.
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All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All asurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, counting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION
Impacts
620
4 The Good Chiropractor House of Healing KenGee Ehrlich offers chiropractic care, such as adjustments and X-rays, as well as vibroacoustic therapy and trauma-informed healing services. • Opened in December • 3500 S. RM 620, Bldg. 4, Ste. 300, Bee Cave • https://thegoodchiropractor.mykajabi.com 5 Poke Fit The Leander-based Hawaiian-style restaurant offers counter service where patrons can build their own poke bowls. The bowls come with a base of rice or salad, then customers choose sides, protein, mix-ins, sauces and toppings. • Opened Jan. 18 • 5145 N. RM 620, Ste. B180, Austin • www.pokefit4u.com 6 Body20 The fitness studio offers low-impact, muscle- stimulating workouts with the guidance of a personal trainer. The national franchise has multiple locations across Texas, including one in Bee Cave. • Opened April 1 • 3810 N. Quinlan Park Road, Ste. 160, Austin • www.body20.com 7 Bluebonnet Diabetes & Endocrinology Specialist Dr. Neha Lalani offers diagnosis and treatment services for conditions such as diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis alongside hormone disorders. • Opened March 20 8 Precious Nails Licensed nail technician Aspen Babnick creates customized nail designs in her independent studio. • Opened April 2 • 5524 Bee Caves Road, Ste. F-1, Austin • Instagram: beautybyaspen 9 Milan Laser Hair Removal Services include arm and leg hair removal, facial hair removal, and more. • 4613 Bee Caves Road, Ste. A-102, Austin • www.bluebonnetendocrinology.com
LAKE TRAVIS
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CITY PARK RD.
STEINER RANCH BLVD.
620
Lakeway
LOHMANS SPUR RD.
360
PEARCE RD.
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EMMA LONG PARK
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21
LADERA BLVD.
COMMONS FORD RANCH
MEDICAL PKWY.
HILL COUNTRY BLVD.
4
West Lake Hills
N. CUERNAVACA DR.
BEE CAVE PKWY.
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CAPROCK SUMMIT DR.
MARKET ST.
17
BEE CAVES RD.
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W. WILLIAM CANNON DR.
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SWEETWATER VILLAGE DR.
WALSH TARLTON LN.
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BARTON CREEK HABITAT PRESERVE
290
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MAP NOT TO SCALE
N TM; © 2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
MOPAC
products, such as cleansers, moisturizers, toners and sunscreen. • Opened April 2 • 4609 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 100, West Lake Hills • www.skinpharm.com 3 JuiceLand The Austin-based juice company serves raw, cold-pressed juice and superfood smoothies made with whole fruits and vegetables. Patrons can also order grab-and-go plant-based meals, lattes and wellness shots. • Opened March 19 • 3303 N. RM 620, Austin • www.juiceland.com
Now open
1 Enchanted Forest Ice Cream The new gourmet ice cream shop offers a variety of ice cream flavors, bakery treats and coffee drinks while serving as an event space for children’s parties. • Opened March 27 • 6812 N. RM 620, Austin • www.enchantedforesticecream.com 2 Skin Pharm The medical spa and beauty brand offers cosmetic dermatology services, such as Botox, microneedling, lip filler and chemical peels, plus a line of skin care
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RICK COFER AUSTIN’S GO-TO CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
COFERCONNELLY.COM • 602 W. 11 TH ST., AUSTIN, TX 78701 • 512-200-3801
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON, GRACE DICKENS & KAMERYN GRIESSER
14 Jet’s Pizza The Michigan-based chain serves a variety of pizza options, including Detroit-style deep dish, hand-tossed round, thin crust and gluten free, among other styles. The menu also has salads and subs. • Opening this summer • 7101 Hwy. 71, Ste. 9, Austin • www.jetspizza.com 15 Texas Medclinic Urgent Care-Bee Cave The medical center will offer both urgent care and occupational health care services on a walk-in basis. • Opening in early 2025 16 Taco Margarita The authentic Mexican restaurant will open in the same shopping center as Shipley Donuts, offering plates such as tacos, chimichangas, burritos, enmoladas and enchiladas, as well as margaritas and cocktails. • Opening in late April 17 Pür Life Medical-Bee Cave The wellness center offers red light therapy, hormone therapy, sound therapy, microcurrent treatment, IV drips and nutrition planning. • Opening in early summer • 15500 Hwy. 71, Bldg. C, Ste. 3, Bee Cave • www.purlifemedical.com • 14426 Hwy. 71, Bee Cave • www.texasmedclinic.com • 3620 RM 620, Bee Cave • www.tacomargarita.us 18 Just Food For Dogs The pet supply store will sell premium pet food, toys and pet care products. • Opening in June • 2805 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 416, Rollingwood • www.justfoodfordogs.com
• Opened April 8 • Hill Country Galleria, 12600 Hill Country Road, Ste. R134, Bee Cave • www.milanlaser.com 10 The Artesian at Bee Cave The 349-unit multifamily development features one- to three-bedroom apartments, two- to three-bedroom townhomes and penthouse suites. The site features a resort-style pool, a poolside pavilion, pet parks and more. • Opened April 5 • 5511 Caprock Summit Drive, Bee Cave • www.theartesianatbeecave.com
In the news
Coming soon
20 Tony C’s The authentic Italian pizzeria celebrated 15 years at the Hill Country Galleria in February. The restaurant sells coal-fired pies, traditional Italian entrees and wine flights. • 12800 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. G-160, Bee Cave • www.tonycs.com
11 ATX Hyperbarics - Lakeway The wellness center treats injuries and pain by exposing patients to hyperbaric pressure within oxygen-rich chambers. ATX Hyperbarics has two other locations in West Lake Hills and Round Rock. • Opening in August • 101 Medical Parkway, Ste. 160, Lakeway • www.atxhyperbarics.com 12 Pepita’s Cafe & Bar The Mexican-American restaurant will be located at the former Pizza Nizza spot. The menu will include breakfast and dinner options such as nachos, street tacos, burgers, sandwiches, salads and soups. • Opening in May • 2712 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 106, Austin • www.pepitascafeandbar.com 13 Mojo Coffee The Texas-based, family-owned coffee chain roasts its beans and makes all frappes in-house with a soft-serve ice cream machine. Other menu options include energy drinks, smoothies, cold brews, frosts, teas, lemonades and pastries. • Opening in late 2024 • 16820 Sweetwater Village Drive, Austin • www.mojodrivethru.com
including kitchen and home decor, office supplies, toys and crafts, cleaning tools, snacks, drinks, and seasonal decorations. According to a project registration with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the store will be completed in May. • 2300 Lohmans Spur Road, Lakeway • www.dollartree.com 21 Ski Shores Cafe The longtime Lake Austin eatery will celebrate 70 years in business this summer. The menu features several classic items, such as fried pickles and burgers, as well as seafood dishes.
In the news
19 Dollar Tree The national discount store chain sells a variety of goods,
• 2905 Pearce Road, Austin • www.skishorescafe.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Government
BY KATY MCAFEE
TravCo’s EPA status prompts health concerns
The impact
Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin found that Austin neighborhoods with worse air pollution were linked to higher rates of asthma-related trips to the emergency room.
Fine particle pollution exposure can lead to higher rates of asthma attacks, missed school or work days, emergency room visits and prema- ture death, EPA officials said. A study released March 18 by Dell
The EPA's monitors recorded an average of 9.3 micrograms per cubic meter for the county from 2020-2022. The World Health Organization’s guideline is only 5 micrograms per cubic meter. aren’t considered dangerous, they exceed the threshold for “healthy,” according to the EPA and WHO standards. If they don’t improve by 2032, the While Travis County’s fine particulate matter levels county will need to follow new planning requirements and could be denied funding for projects, officials said.
New air quality standards rolled out by the Environmental Protection Agency Feb. 7 could give Travis County a worse designation for fine particulate matter pollution. Travis County was passing the previous standard of 12 micrograms per cubic meter, but EPA’s new standards consider fine particulate matter pollution above 9 micrograms per cubic matter to be unhealthy. Fine particulate matter are tiny particles made up of dust, soot, smoke and chemicals emitted from construction sites.
AQI category and index value
Previous AQI category breakpoints
New breakpoints
Good (0-50)
0.0-12.0
0.0-9.0
Air quality is safe for all. Moderate (51-100)
12.1-35.4 9.1-35.4 Most people will be unaffected, but sensitive groups, which include children, elderly, and people with heart or lung disease may experience some symptoms. Unhealthy for sensitive groups (101-150) 35.5-55.4 35.5-55.4 Sensitive groups should avoid being outside for a prolonged period of time and heavy exertion.
SOURCE: TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: THE AQI INCLUDES SIX TOTAL CATEGORIES. TRAVIS COUNTY'S SCORE IS UNLIKELY TO ENTER THE BOTTOM THREE.
Travis County- area air quality Monitors throughout Travis County saw several months with fine particulate matter averages at or above the EPA's new standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter. Dripping Springs East MLK Zilker
Previous EPA standard
New EPA standard
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What’s next
4 6 2 0
criticism by Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said in a news release that he is suing President Joe Biden’s administration as the EPA’s new air quality standards will impose significant economic harm on Texas. Travis County officials have not stated their position on the lawsuit.
Travis County officials have historically supported initiatives that provide clean air; however, Adele Noel, Travis County’s environmental project manager for air quality, said meeting EPA’s new standards may be out of the local government’s hands. EPA’s new standards have faced
2023
2024
Pflugerville Falcon Pointe soccer field*
*PFLUGERVILLE'S FALCON POINTE SOCCER FIELD MONITOR WAS NOT INSTALLED UNTIL SEPTEMBER. NOTE: THIS DATA REPRESENTS THREE SPECIFIC AIR FILTERS FROM PRIVATE COMPANY PURPLE AIR WHICH SHOWS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT RESULTS THAN THE EPA AVERAGE FOR THE COUNTY.
SOURCE: PURPLEAIR/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION
Government
Local water leaders urge residents to conserve Lakeway residents were urged to conserve water during a presentation by the Central Texas Water Coalition—an organization focused on protecting the water supply in the Highland Lakes—at a City Council meeting March 18. How we got here CTWC Executive Director Shannon Hamilton said the inflow of water in Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are extremely low. The fourth lowest inflows on record were recorded in 2023, and so far in 2024, the lakes have only received about 18% of the historical average, she said. “People are entitled to water 12 hours once a week, but we don’t have to,” Hamilton said. “It’s time to start transitioning out of that, and that’s what I would encourage everyone to do.” This past summer, the Central Texas region was hit with record-breaking high heat and little rainfall.
City implements new communication tools Residents of West Lake Hills will have a new citywide communication system starting in mid-May, allowing for more choices to connect with city officials and higher city accountability. The city will switch from Blackboard Con- nect to CivicPlus for its mass notification and resident communications system, following action taken at the March 27 City Council meeting. The details One highlight of the new system includes the 311 Customer Relationship Manager, which stores all resident interactions with the city in one place to streamline city response. CivicPlus also offers a mass communica- tion service, including an emergency and non-emergency notification system.
Reducing usage The CTWC recommends Lakeway residents do the following to conserve water:
Reduce time spent watering lawns.
Plant native grasses and plants.
Don’t power wash.
Check for water leaks in and outside of the home
Invest in a cover for pools.
SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS WATER COALITION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Keep in mind Hamilton said that looking ahead, by 2080 an estimated 4.5 million people will be living in the area. With a population increase, water needs are only increasing. “People don’t seem to grasp this is real,” Hamilton said. “Our lakes are drying up.”
12
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY ELLE BENT, GRACE DICKENS & KAMERYN GRIESSER
Bee Cave updates library, book review policies At a March 26 meeting, Bee Cave City Council members approved an updated set of policies for the Bee Cave Public Library ahead of its upcom-
Lakeway increases quarterly trash fees Starting in April, Lakeway residents began paying about 20% more per quarter for waste collection services. What happened? An ordinance approved by City Council on March 18 increased rates from $66.99 to $80.55 per quarter for weekly trash and recycling services. No additional pickup services will be added, and the level of service will remain the same for all Lakeway residents, a city spokesperson said. The reason The new rates will account for inflation challenges and the higher volume of bulk recycling in Lakeway as the population continues to grow, a city spokesperson said.
Updated book policy
Requesters must be cardholding members of the BCPL. Materials will remain in the library during reconsideration. The review committee will be comprised of the library director, the assistant director and members of the library advisory committee.
ing relocation. The rundown
SOURCE: CITY OF BEE CAVE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The library policy updates are part of a Long- Range Plan for the new, 24,000-square-foot, three-story Bee Cave Public Library set to open in 2026. According to city documents, most of the existing library procedures will remain the same and carry over to the new location, however, there are some policy updates to note for patrons regarding library materials: • The checkout period for physical materials will remain at three weeks. • The checkout period for e-books and
audiobooks is now two weeks. • Overdue fees will not be charged. • DVDs, Audiobooks and Playaways can no longer be donated. • Families can only donate up to three bags or boxes of items annually. Additionally, as regional debate about age-ap- propriate library materials heats up, the library added clarifications to its material removal request policies.
Content provided by City of Lakeway
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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY ELLE BENT & CHLOE YOUNG
Texas school districts received unwelcome news in late 2023—they would lose about $300 million in Medicaid reimbursements for special education students through the state’s School Health and Related Services, or SHARS, program. SHARS allows school districts to be reimbursed for providing Medicaid health- related services to special education students. The reduction comes as the Texas Health and Human Services Commission lost an appeal to the ndings of a federal audit in October. The audit found the agency owed the federal government about $16 million it received for non-medical services. HHSC plans to repay the $16 million by recovering funds from districts and has made cuts to districts’ reimbursements. Districts lose $300M from special ed funds
The impact
nancially, with Austin ISD close behind, accord- ing to data provided by the HHSC. With a current budget de cit of $52 million for FY 2023-24, AISD will see a loss of $7.8 million promised in reimbursements, impacting over 10,000 special education students in the district, according to AISD documents.
The loss comes after districts have already budgeted for FY 2023-24 and are facing a $2 billion special education shortfall statewide, said Sylvia Wood, spokesperson for the Texas Association of School Boards. Northside ISD, Dallas ISD and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD are anticipating some of the largest setbacks
Diving in deeper
Estimated losses in school Medicaid funding
Some Central Texas school districts told Com- munity Impact they are seeing cuts beyond what HHSC has reported as a result of the audit. Lake Travis ISD will see a total reduction of $285,236 despite HHSC notifying the district of a $72,568 cut due to recoding some services, said Pam Sanchez, LTISD assistant superintendent for business services. Liberty Hill ISD will have to realign funds to cover some special education services as the district will receive $247,403 in reimbursements when it expected $1.1 million, Chief Financial O cer Rosanna Guerrero said. “The noti cations that HHSC sent in December were not full [and] were not complete of all the reductions they were making,” Guerrero said. Pete Pape, Leander ISD Chief Financial O cer, said the district was noti ed it owed HHSC $183,000 when it expected to receive $7 million—a decision the district has appealed. The district is now anticipating a $3.8 million de cit for the 2023-24 scal year mainly due to the funding loss.
The following reductions are HHSC estimates from Dec. 15. Many local districts anticipate larger losses.
Original 2022 estimates
Updated 2022 funding
Funding loss
Dripping Springs
$123,738
$381,106
Eanes
$1,148,727
Hutto
"It is never a good time to lose money, but this is really the worst possible time
$72,568
Lake Travis
to lose money and to lose money for services for special needs students." PETE PAPE, LEANDER ISD CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Leander
$559,344
Liberty Hill
Round Rock
$936,596
0 $1M $2M $3M $4M
SOURCE: TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION COMMUNITY IMPACT THIS LIST IS NONCOMPREHENSIVE.
Special education students This shows the number of students who received special education services in area districts in 2022-23.
What’s next
“My hope is that we reduce the amount of loss,” Blanco said. “I think the longevity of [SHARS] is incredibly important to education and school nance in Texas.” Wood said TASB will continue to seek solutions, including legislative assistance, to improve the SHARS program so “school districts can spend more time serving [the] most vulnerable students and less time ... [navigating the] reimbursement system.”
Texas districts had until Jan. 31 to appeal the nal amounts they were noti ed of in December. HHSC expects to nish reviewing districts’ appeals by May, spokesperson Ti any Young said. Third-party billing company MSB School Services assisted almost all of the 460 districts it represents in submitting an appeal to HHSC, Chief Strategy O cer Emily Blanco said.
Eanes ISD: 836
Georgetown ISD: 2,035
Lake Travis ISD: 1,323
Leander ISD: 5,960
Round Rock ISD: 5,608
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY CHLOE YOUNG
If you could make a Real Estate Plan to protect your family, would you? OUR SERVICES • Real Estate Services for Buyers, Sellers, & Investors • Senior Living & Move Options Consults • Family Feud Prevention Consults • Wealth Building Using 1031 Exchanges, DST’s & Asset Performance Tests • Deferring/ Eliminating Capital Gains Tax Strategies • Probate Real Estate Specialist In a split vote, the Lake Travis ISD board of trustees decided to remove the young adult novel “The Haters” by Jesse Andrews from Lake Travis High School while keeping “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” at a March 20 meeting. This was the second time that challenged library books have come before the board through a multilevel grievance process. In both instances, the books were challenged by Jodie Dover, who said she has challenged around 25 books over the last 14 months. Many community members and students urged the board to keep the books at Lake Travis High School, while several speakers said the books were sexually explicit and inappropriate for students. LTISD board removes book
The backstory
Book challenge process
Community members can informally challenge a book, which may be resolved by a principal or district staff. If the complainant makes a formal challenge, the book will be reviewed by a reconsideration committee. The complainant may appeal the decision and an administrator will review the book. If appealed again, another administrator will review the book. Upon the complainant’s third appeal, the challenged book will go to the board of trustees for a vote.
Step 1:
LTISD is one of many districts across the state that is grappling with how to enforce House Bill 900, a new state law banning public schools from having sexually explicit books. The district launched an online form last spring allowing community members to challenge books and see books under review. Officials have also discussed increasing parental involvement in what students are reading through a new library policy and updating library websites.
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
SOURCE: LAKE TRAVIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Book reviews Since January 2023:
Board President John Aoueille and board member Keely Cano voted to remove both books, but board members Phillip Davis and Lauren White voted to keep both books. Board members Erin Archer and Kim Flasch voted to only remove “The Haters.”
30+ 9
books have been challenged books have been removed
SOURCE: LAKE TRAVIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Education
LTISD weighs scaling down new high school Lake Travis ISD may build its second high school to accommodate 500 fewer students as the district projects lower enrollment growth following a demographic update from Population and Survey Analysts President Stacey Tepera at a
LISD to begin hiring for hard-to-fill roles Leander ISD will begin hiring early for 27 new full-time positions ahead of next school year to find qualified candidates for positions that are hard to fill. The board’s votes at meetings on March 7 and March 28 allowed the district to start hiring for $1.8 million in additional positions for next school year before the district’s fiscal year 2024-25 budget is adopted, Superintendent Bruce Gearing said. Posi- tions include: • 10 special education teachers and four dual language/bilingual teachers • Six Early College High School teachers and three speech language pathologists • Two psychologists, one diagnostician and one occupational therapist
Lowering capacity The revised design for a smaller high school accommodating 1,500 students would remove:
4 science labs
17 classrooms
1 counselor suite
1 gymnasium
March 20 meeting. What’s happening
1 CTE lab
New demographic data shows the district will have 5,000 high school students by the time it is built out compared to previous projections for 5,500 students, Tepera said. As such, the district may need to build its second high school opening in 2027 off Hwy. 71 to serve 1,500 students instead of 2,000, Superinten- dent Paul Norton said. Following the Travis County parks bond passing in November, the district expects that 2,300 fewer homes will be built as more land will be reserved
SOURCE: LAKE TRAVIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
for green space. Rising interest rates have also slowed new housing construction and home resales while the district is seeing smaller incoming kindergarten classes, she said. VLK Architects Principal Tom Oehler presented the new high school’s design for 2,000 versus 1,500 students, which involves a 40,000-square- foot size reduction.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & CHLOE YOUNG
EISD teacher salary 1% below median, board considers solutions A number of solutions for Eanes ISD to remain competitive with other districts in the hiring process were presented by the Texas Association of School Boards at the March 26 board meeting. The details Based on TASB’s findings, EISD’s average teacher salary is $545, or 1%, below the local market median salary of $60,067. Teacher pay is $34 below the market median salary at 20 years, but $1,264 below at 15 years, data shows. Major takeaways Based on the data, TASB presented several options for the district to increase its competi- tiveness. Solutions included improving starting salaries and adopting a 2-3% general pay increase.
EISD pursues campus refurbishments Projects financed with 2023 bond package funds were approved by the Eanes ISD board of trustees during their March 26 meeting. The breakdown During the meeting, the board approved nearly $1.9 million worth of bond funds: • $201,093 to renew a one-year contract with the district’s student information system. • $339,973 to replace flooring at Hill Country Middle School. Work will begin this summer. • $197,690 for 265 new Westlake Chaparral Marching Band uniforms. • $1.14 million to replace windows at Bridge Point and Eanes Elementary campuses. Work will begin this summer.
Eanes ISD teacher salaries The district is below the median market value with regards to compensating teachers more per years of experience.*
Eanes ISD salary
Local market median salary
$64,170
$65K
$55,807
$60K
$64,136
$55K
$55,500
0
0 year 5 year 10 year 15 year 20 year
Experience
SOURCES: EANES ISD, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS/COMMUNITY IMPACT *MARKET MEDIAN SALARY FACTORS IN AUSTIN, LAKE TRAVIS, DRIPPING SPRINGS, HAYS AND SAN MARCOS ISDS
Additional recommendations were made to provide meaningful pay differences based on years of teaching experience and increasing stipends for hard-to-fill positions, such as bilingual teachers. Board President James Spradley said pay increases are limited by stagnating state funding per pupil, which has gone unchanged since 2019.
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Transportation
BY KATY MCAFEE
By the end of 2024, Texas drivers could look over to see a semitruck traveling down the highway with no one in the driver’s seat. Leading the charge in the Austin area is autonomous truck company Kodiak Robotics, which is already hauling IKEA furniture and Tyson Foods chicken daily on Texas roads. Currently, Kodiak trucks have a “safety driver” monitoring the truck as it carries freight for hundreds of miles. By the end of the year, Kodiak will send trucks out unmanned. Kodiak joins the likes of other autonomous vehicle companies in Austin, including Waymo which debuted on March 6. Cruise was also operational in Austin but ceased its taxi operations in October. Driverless semis take on Texas
The breakdown
Dan Go , head of policy at Kodiak, said autono- mous trucks di er from cars as they have more pre- dictable driving patterns and fewer obstacles, such as pedestrians, cyclists and stop lights, compared to taxis. Cruise and Waymo also have larger eets than autonomous truck companies do. “The Kodiak system doesn’t get tired, it doesn’t get distracted, it doesn’t check its phone, it doesn’t have a bad day and take it out on the road,” he said.
Autonomous vehicle companies are required to self-report any crash incidents to the National Highway Tra c Safety Administration. Waymo and Cruise take the lead in collisions among 39 companies with 240 and 151 crashes respectively, according to data collected from July 2021 to Feb. 15 by the NHTSA. Third in line is Gen- eral Motors, which owns Cruise, with 144 crashes, according to NHTSA.
Autonomous vehicle crashes
Waymo
240
Cruise
151
Car
Semitruck
General Motors
Data shows autonomous passenger vehicles have more crashes than autonomous trucks. However, passenger vehicles have larger testing eets and navigate more obstacles comparatively.
144
Kodiak 3 5 Aurora
0
50
100
150
200
250
NOTE: SELF REPORTED DATA WAS COLLECTED FROM JULY 2021FEB. 15.
SOURCE: NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT
The why
What's next?
Go said Texas’ roads have been an ideal place to launch autonomous truck technology as the state covers some of the most lucrative freight routes in the nation. November data from the American Trucking Associations revealed trucks will haul 3 billion more tons of freight annually by 2034, securing trucking as the dominant mover of goods in the nation. Despite those projections, Go said the grow- ing industry faces a “signi cant” labor shortage that autonomous vehicles could remedy. Go said autonomous vehicle companies have also been well received by Texas legislators. Texas’ supportive regulatory culture sprouted from Senate Bill 2205, a law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2017 that prohibits cities from regulating autonomous vehicles due to their economic potential. We face real challenges around trucking, around people not wanting to drive trucks and there being a shortage of truck drivers. ... If you can automate those 1,000-mile stretches, it will have a real impact on our economy.” DAN GOFF, HEAD OF POLICY AT KODIAK
Gatik, which specializes in medium-length trips from single digits to 150 miles long, will also begin going “freight only” in Texas by the end of the year. The company already transports goods for Walmart, Tyson, Kroger and others without a driver in Ontario and Arkansas. Autonomous truck company Aurora will chart a similar path by year’s end, removing drivers. The company currently has routes in Houston, Fort Worth and El Paso with plans to expand to Central Texas. To accommodate the in ux of driverless semis in the Austin-area, the Texas Department of Transportation has a plan to establish a "smart corridor" on SH 130 from Georgetown through Del Valle. The stretch will be equipped with sensors and cameras to help the vehicles navigate road conditions and hazards, according to road technology company Cavnue. “SH 130 is one of many advanced toll roads in Texas with several technologies already like ber, cellular, cameras and tolling facilities,” said Darran Anderson, TxDOT’s director of strategy and innovation. Details on when the smart corridor will o cially launch have not been announced.
29
Georgetown
35
183
79
Hutto
Round Rock
45 TOLL
Smart Corridor Technology along SH 130 will assist navigation of autonomous trucks.
130 TOLL
290
Manor
MOPAC
183
Austin
Del Valle
71
35
Buda
45 TOLL
N
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CAVNUE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION
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