EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Eanes, Lake Travis & Leander ISDs & Texas
QUOTE OF NOTE "BY MAKING MYSELF THE MAIN POINT OF
BY APRIL KELLEY LTISD reviews digital form for library materials REVIEWING LIBRARY RESOURCES The Lake Travis ISD Resource Review Process has four steps.
HIGHLIGHTS EANES ISD The board of trustees approved the purchase of classroom furniture with funds from the 2019 bond at a meeting March 28. The district will be purchasing exible furniture to outt an additional 30 elementary classrooms, 30 middle school classrooms and 30 high school classrooms at a total cost of $1.08 million. LAKE TRAVIS ISD The board of trustees approved a pre-K tuition rate increase of $500 per year for nonqualier students for the 2023-24 school year at a meeting March 22. The annual rate increased from $6,000 to $6,500. Trustees also approved the 2022-23 stipend compensation plan, which includes two new stipends: a $3,000 student teacher stipend and an Employee Referral Program of $400. EANES ISD The board of trustees approved recommendations for general counsel, assistant superintendents and principals at a meeting April 11. Eleven administrators were presented for 2023-24 contract renewal. Contracts were renewed for Molly May, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment; Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Planning Jeremy Trimble; and general counsel Allyson Collins. Several principal contracts were also renewed. NUMBER TO KNOW The amount Eanes ISD approved for the purchase of classroom furniture using 2019 bond funds $1.08 million CONTACT, I THINK I CAN SPEED UP THAT BOOK REVIEW PROCESS MUCH QUICKER AND TALK TO THE LIBRARIANS DIRECTLY.” CARL MCLENDON, LTISD DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
LAKE TRAVIS ISD The board of trustees discussed the addition of a digital form for the informal request for the reconsideration of library resource materials for the district website at a meeting March 22. LTISD Director of Curriculum & Instruction Carl McLendon presented trustees with an example of a digital version of the paper form the district uses for parents to submit requests for library resource material recon- sideration and possible removal. McLendon said he would act as the principal designee, or the main point of contact, for the requests for reconsideration. Once he receives the digital form, McLendon said he would contact librarians on the campus or campuses where the resource can be found to begin the review process. “It will come straight to me,” he said. “The goal is for me to get that Senate passes bill to send funds to private schools BY HANNAH NORTON TEXAS A proposal to use state money to help parents pay for private schools was approved by the Texas Senate on April 6, setting the stage for a contentious debate in the House. Senators also approved a bill that would give public school teachers a one-time bonus. The Senate was in session for nearly 12 hours and spent over ve hours debating the two education bills. Senate Bill 8, by Sen. Brandon Creighton, RConroe, would create an education savings account pro- gram, commonly known as private school vouchers. Parents who pull their children out of public schools could receive $8,000 per student to help send them to private schools. The money, which would come from taxes paid to the state, could be used to cover private school tuition or other educational expenses, such as textbooks or transportation.
Campus librarian(s) review resource Step 2:
Step 1:
Committee of parents/ educators reviews book Step 3:
Step 4:
Informal reconsideration
Committee makes decision
request is submitted
on book removal
SOURCE: LAKE TRAVIS ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
information, and then I have that direct contact with those librarians so that we can begin that review process together.” As with the paper format for the reconsideration of a library resource and possible book removal, the digital version will ask users for contact information, the resource or book in question and the perceived objectionable content. The digital form also has two addi- tional questions: one asking which
campus the book was found on and another asking if the book in question is a library or curriculum resource. McLendon said the digital form would not be available for the public to access until after the board makes an ocial decision at a future meet- ing but that it would expedite the resource material review process. Once the board decides on the nal format of the form, it will be accessi- ble on the district website under the Library Services tab.
Lake Travis ISD trustees cancel May election
BY APRIL KELLEY
LAKE TRAVIS ISD The board of trustees canceled the May 6 election at a meeting March 22, saving the district approximately $45,000. Two candidates led for uncon- tested races for the Lake Travis ISD board of trustees as of the ling deadline Feb. 17—Robert Scott Aird for the Place 6 position and Keely Ann Cano for the Place 7 position. Because both of the races are unopposed, the LTISD board of trustees unanimously voted to cancel the election. Place 6 Trustee William Beard had initially applied for re-election but later withdrew his application. Marco Alvarado, LTISD execu- tive director of communications and community relations, said it is typical for the LTISD board of trustees to cancel elections when all candidates are running uncontested.
Sen. Brandon Creighton, RConroe, discusses Senate Bill 8 on April 6.
To be eligible for the program, students must be enrolled in a pub- lic school and have attended public school for at least 90% of the current school year. Students enrolling in kindergarten or prekindergarten for the rst time could also apply for an account. In an amendment to the bill, Creighton announced 10% of the program’s funds could be used to provide education savings accounts for low-income students who are already enrolled in private schools. This would be about 62,500 stu- dents, Creighton said. Other private school students would not be eligible for the program.
MEETINGS WE COVER
Eanes ISD board of trustees will meet May 23 at 7 p.m. at 601 Camp Craft Road, West Lake Hills. www.eanesisd.net Lake Travis ISD board of trustees will meet May 17 at 6 p.m. at 607 RM 620, Lakeway. www.ltisdschools.org Leander ISD board of trustees will meet May 11 and May 25 at 6:15 p.m. at 300 W. South Drive, Leander. www.leanderisd.org
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION • APRIL 2023
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