New Braunfels | April 2025

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New Braunfels Edition VOLUME 8, ISSUE 5 APRIL 8MAY 7, 2025

2025 Voter Guide

New Braunfels-area MUD proposals grow

More than 17 new districts created in last 5 years

INSIDE

San Marcos

Proposed MUD No. 5

306

CANYON LAKE

Kyndwood MUD • Created: July 20, 2023 • Established: Nov. 15, 2023

BY JACQUELYN BURRER

Meyer Ranch MUD • Created: Oct. 11, 2016 • Established: Feb. 7, 2017

While only a few Comal County voters will have the opportunity to vote on municipal utility district-related ballot items in the May 3 election, the decisions made will impact future residents who move into the district boundaries. This includes Comal County MUD No. 5—a new 621-acre district north of New Braunfels. If approved, these entities would join a growing number of MUDs rapidly reshaping development in the county. An extraterritorial jurisdiction is an unincorporated area located outside a city's boundaries. Special purpose districts like MUDs are used within an ETJ to create developments and provide utilities for residents in the area.

2673

GUADALUPE RIVER

281

2722

123

306

337

New Braunfels

1863

Johnson Ranch MUD • Created: Feb. 20, 2007 • Established: May 19, 2010

Key:

New Braunfels city limits Extraterritorial jurisdiction Existing MUDs

123

1604

Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority

GUADALUPE RIVER

Seguin

281

San Antonio

410

SOURCE: TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS, COMAL COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

N MAP NOT TO SCALE

Impacts

Business

Page 6

Page 23

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Impacts

• 137 Ransom Drive, New Braunfels • www.mayfairtx.com

UHLAND RD.

306

3 Lucky Brew The drive-thru coffee trailer, owned by Josie Olson, sells hand-crafted coffees made with coffee beans from the

San Marcos

Pacific Northwest. • Opened March 22 • 2311 Hwy. 46, New Braunfels • Facebook: Lucky Brew

WORD PKWY.

New Braunfels RANSOM DR.

337

4 Thai Isan House The restaurant serves authentic Thai dishes. • Opened March 22 • 596 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels • www.thaiisanhouse.com 1101

HUNTERS VILLAGE PKWY.

12 5

ELIZABETH AVE.

LANDA

5 1to1 Plans The business offers walkable LED floor technology, giving homeowners, residential developers or commercial developers the ability to walk through their project before construction begins. • Opened April 1 • 1913 Post Road, Ste. 245, New Braunfels • www.1to1plans.com 6 Tom’s Comedy Club The comedy club—which opened inside the existing Tommy John’s Tailgate restaurant— holds weekly comedy shows on Friday and Saturday with open mic night’s on Tuesday. • Opened beginning of March • 1515 Kuehler Avenue, New Braunfels • Facebook: Tom’s Comedy Club

ISLAND

CASTELL AVE.

337

KUEHLER AVE.

UNICORN AVE.

LAKE DUNLAP

1044

MAP NOT TO SCALE

725

Coming soon

7 Pilates Barre of New Braunfels Locally-owned by Lariesa Hodges, the studio will offer pilates and barre group classes as well as private sessions for all skill levels. • Opening in June • 1528 E. Common St., Ste. 12, New Braunfels • www.PilatesBarreNB.com

• 1430 Unicorn Ave., Ste. 102 • Facebook: New Braunfels’ Barber

Now open

1 New Braunfels’ Barber The barbershop, owned by Fred Cortez, specializes in men’s grooming, offering traditional men’s haircuts, razor fades and straight razor shaves. • Opened April 1

2 Fairway Park The 18-acre park offers an 18-hole disc golf course, bike pump track and playscape. • Opened March 22

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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8 Total True Automotive The locally-owned business has provided automotive services to the Schertz and Cibolo areas for over 20 years, according to an email to Community Impact from Director of Operations John Long. Total True Automotive will offer complete automotive mechanical repairs, including tires and alignments. • Opening May 5 • 1997 I-35 N. frontage road, New Braunfels • www.totaltrue.com 9 The Cake Bar & Coffee Co. The business, owned by Debbie De La Cruz and her daughters, Katarina and Kasandra who also own and operate The Sweet Spot, will offer new menu items like cookie cakes, cheesecakes, brownie cakes and more. The business will also offer espresso, chai tea, matcha and infused Red Bulls. • Opening mid-April

• 1913 Post Road, Ste. 210, New Braunfels • www.gojiles.com

In the news

13 Litton Family Dental The dental practice relocated from 457 Landa St., Ste. I to 245 Hunter’s Village Parkway, Ste. A, New Braunfels on March 17 after acquiring Dr. Frederick Franke III’s practice. Litton Family Dental offers teeth cleanings and exams, fluoride treatments and more. • 245 Hunter’s Village Parkway, Ste. A, New Braunfels • www.littonfamilydental.com

In the news

14 New Braunfels Noon Lions Club The New Braunfels Noon Lions Club celebrated its 100-year-anniversary with a gala on March 28. The club was chartered in 1925, according to a Congressional record. The New Braunfels Noon Lions Club serves the community through various philanthropic events and grants. • 111 Landa St., New Braunfels • www.sites.google.com/view/new-braunfels-lions- club/home 15 J&R Gymnastics The family-owned gymnastics gym will celebrate its 35-year-anniversary in New Braunfels on June 1. J&R Gymnastics offers gymnastics, cheer, dance, tumbling, Aerial Silk and ninja classes for children from 6 months up to 18 years old. J&R Gymnastics also offers homeschool P.E. • 1437 S. Walnut Ave., New Braunfels • www.jandrgymnastics.com 16 Restoring Mobility The business, locally-owned by Jeff Crouch, will celebrate its 20th anniversary May 1. Restoring Mobility offers lifting recliners, scooters, wheelchairs, walkers and vehicle lifts. The business also offers equipment repairs. • 1324 E. Common St., Ste. 304, New Braunfels • 830-626-0051

17 Word Park The $10 million park project will be equipped with pickleball courts, hiking trails and a zipline. Word Park will feature interactive nature playscapes and water features. Word Park is slated to break ground in the fall, according to the news release. • Breaking ground in fall • 192 Word Parkway, New Braunfels • www.veramenditx.com

• 173 S. Seguin Ave., New Braunfels • Facebook: The Cake Bar & Coffee Co.

Relocations

10 The Hungry Waffle The waffle truck relocated from 1760 S. Business I-35, New Braunfels to 1705 S. I-35 frontage road, San Marcos on March 24. Owned by Jennifer Casillas and her fiancé Adam Tekien, The Hungry Waffle serves Leige, Belgian and Bubble Waffles along with waffle fries and tater tots. • Relocated March 24 • 1705 S. I-35 frontage road, San Marcos • www.thehungrywaffle.com 11 Otto’s Cheese Shop The cheese shop temporarily closed to relocate from 344 Landa St. to 2345 Loop 337, Ste. 100, in New Braunfels. However, there is no reopening time frame as of press time. Otto’s Cheese Shop sells a wide variety of cheeses and meats. • Relocation TBD • www.ottoscheeseshop.com 12 Jiles Roofing & Jiles Solar Power The commercial and residential roofing service relocated to 1913 Post Road, Ste. 210, New Braunfels on Feb. 1.

18 Swim Pure Pool Services The business—previously located at 1102 Eikel Road— operated as Frontline Pool & Spa Services. Swim Pure acquired the business Jan. 1 and relocated to Kayden Park III in February. The business offers pool maintenance services in the New Braunfels and Austin areas.

• 1913 Post Road, Ste. 330, New Braunfels • www.spspoolcare.com/pool-services/ tx/austin/swim-pure

19 First Priority Emergency Room The emergency room changed its name from Riverside ER in December. The freestanding ER offers emergency care, pediatric care and more. • 1860 S. Seguin Ave., Ste. 400, New Braunfels • www.newbraunfelser.com

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Government

BY JACQUELYN BURRER

Texas Water Company cancels 9 water utility agreements

concerns, particularly after legislation passed in 2023 allowing developers to opt out of the extrater- ritorial jurisdiction, Crownover said. How we got here According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, 72.7% of Comal County is in extreme drought, and 27.3% is in exceptional drought, which is the highest drought classifica- tion. In 2022, Comal County entered exceptional drought conditions and has since faced ongoing drought conditions. Annalise Peace, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Executive Director, said while the city requires developers to submit water availability reports, the organization is concerned these reports do not present an accurate picture. The Comal region is supplied by groundwater from the Trinity Aquifer and is typically slower to recharge, Peace said, which means that Comal resi- dents can go into a water deficit if it’s overpumped.

The Texas Water Company denied water service to nine planned development projects across Comal County due to a prolonged severe drought alongside rapid population growth, according to a news release. The big picture According to a letter sent to affected developers, TWC President Aundrea Williams said the orga- nization does not have a definitive timeline for resuming water services but will resume once it has the capacity to do so. Williams said TWC secured 6,000 acre-feet of untapped water in Comal County in 2023, and the company plans to start using that supply by 2026. Comal County Commissioner Precinct 4 Jen Crownover told Community Impact that there needs to be a paradigm shift in availability versus sustainability. The increase of development through munic- ipal utility districts has also contributed to these

Breaking it down While the specific developments affected are not publicly available yet, aside from the Broken Cedar development, the changes will impact 4,182 lots across the county, Crownover said.

Precinct 1 (5 projects): 2,334 lots Precinct 4 (2 projects): 1,210 lots Precinct 2 (2 projects): 638 lots

4,182 total lots

SOURCE: COMAL COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 4 OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking ahead Williams said TWC is also actively looking into new water sources to support anticipated growth and increasing demand.

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BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

City closer to adopting civil parking enforcement program

The city of New Braunfels is inching closer to adopting a civil parking enforcement program after the council unanimously approved an ordinance amendment on March 24. Moving to a civil process would provide cost savings to the court and allow them to redirect their attention to “more serious matters,” Jeff Jewell, director of economic & community development said. The new program would also be more consumer friendly, according to a presentation. Explained The civil parking enforcement program—if approved—will be enforced by Interstate Parking. The program will apply to paid public parking space violations, including fines, hearing appeals, vehicle immobilization or impoundment for delinquent accounts and criminal penalties for impeding ordinance enforcement, agenda docu- ments state. Currently, parking violations are considered a Class C Misdemeanor under a criminal process through the city’s Municipal Court. Individuals disputing a parking violation must make multiple court appearances to resolve the matter, and failure to appear in court may result in additional criminal charges, increased fees and arrest war- rants, according to the presentation. The New Braunfels Municipal Court dealt with about 3,400 parking-related violations in 2024, Jewell said. City Attorney Valeria Acevedo said civil vio- lations in the new ordinance would be parking a vehicle in a paid public parking space without paying the required fee, parking outside the

Dates to know

April 1

April 17

April 21

May 1

May 7 & 8

Resident River Parking Pass Portal opens

Staff will give update to River Advisory Committee

Staff will give a presentation to council detailing downtown parking

Interstate Parking agents will begin enforcing paid river parking

City will host town hall forums to receive additional community feedback

delineated parking space or parking in a space legally occupied by another vehicle. “If a citizen is interfering with the enforcement of this ordinance that is going to be a Class C Mis- demeanor punishable with a fine up to $500 in the New Braunfels Municipal Court,” Acevedo said. Something to note The civil parking enforcement program and ordinance amendment is part of a larger, ongoing effort across multiple departments to implement recommendations from a 2023 operations and management study, Jewell said. The study—which reviewed parking enforce- ment practices downtown and in river parks— found that parking enforcement was inefficient and labor intensive, according the presentation. Stay tuned The item will come back for a second and final reading at a future meeting date. The city will continue with public engagement efforts through- out April and May.

How it works

Citation is received - $100

Payment due in 30 calendar days

$100 fee will be reduced to $65 Citation paid within 10 days

A late fee of $65 may be assessed Citation NOT paid within 30 days

Three or more unpaid violations

Vehicle may be immobilized with a barnacle A barnacle is a device placed on the windshield of a vehicle that has multiple outstanding non-compliance violations.

Barnacles that are not removed within 24 hours of immobilization can be towed or impounded

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

CISD adjusts attendance boundary for 2 elementaries The Comal ISD board of trustees voted to change the attendance boundary for Johnson Ranch and Indian Springs elementary schools Feb. 27. In a nutshell The change was recommended to the board Moffatt said staff carefully reviewed the following factors to develop the recommendation: Traffic patterns Program placement

New Braunfels ISD cancels uncontested trustee elections The NBISD board of trustees canceled elections for one Single-Member District 1 seat and two At-Large trustee positions on March 10. In a nutshell The races for all three seats were left uncontested. Current Single-Member Dis- trict 1 trustee Morgan Renaud and current At-Large trustees Kimberly Goodwin and Megan Stratemann-Willis will continue to serve on the board for another three-year term. “Thank you to the community for having trust in me, [Kimberly] and Megan for the work that we’re excited and happy to do,” Renaud said.

based on current and projected enrollment trends. In the past two years, CISD has taken multiple steps to optimize space at Johnson Ranch, priori- tizing moving as few students as possible. Despite these efforts, mid-year enrollment projections exceeded expectations by over 150 students, reinforcing the need for adjusting boundaries, said Krista Moffatt, assistant superintendent of teaching, learning and leadership. About 220 students will be moved from Johnson Ranch to Indian Springs, agenda documents state. Why now? Johnson Ranch Elementary serves about 1,221 students and exceeds its classroom capacity of 854

Enrollment projections by grade level

Student transfers

Anticipated future growth

Transportation impacts

SOURCE: COMAL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

students, according to agenda documents. “With 16 portable classrooms already in place and no room for additional portables, adjustments are necessary. Meanwhile, Indian Springs has available capacity and no projected growth,” Moffatt said.

NBISD approves new elementary attendance zones

WORD PKWY.

LAMAR ELEMENTARY

337

The New Braunfels ISD board of trustees approved new elementary attendance zones for the 2025-26 school year March 10. The district will open two new elementary schools in the fall—Legend Point Elementary and the “new” Lamar Elementary—which is why the district rezoned its attendance zones, according to a news release.

Digging deeper Legend Point will open in August as part of the Dragon feeder pattern. The “new” Lamar Elemen- tary will also open in August as part of the Unicorn feeder pattern, the news release states. The goal of the rezoning process is to ensure all students have access to high-quality education and support the long-term growth and success of the district.

New Braunfels

W. KLEIN RD.

1044

LEGEND POINT ELEMENTARY

SOURCE: NEW BRAUNFELS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Election

BY MADDY MORALES

Voter Guide

2025

Dates to know

Where to vote

April 22: First day of early voting April 22: Last day to apply for ballot by mail April 29: Last day of early voting May 3: Election day

Residents in Comal and Guadalupe counties can vote at any polling location during early voting or on Election day. A full list of polling locations can be found at www.guadalupetx.gov/page/elections.home and www.co.comal.tx.us/elections.htm.

Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races.

KEY : *Incumbent

Comal ISD Single Member District 6 Amanda Jones* Giovianne Washington

Single Member District 7 David Krawczynski* Orlando OJ Dona Jr.

George Green Toni Carter City Council, District 2 Christopher Willis* Michael Capizzi

Sample ballot

New Braunfels City Council, District 1 Andrés Campos*

SOURCES: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS, COMAL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

New Braunfels City Council, District 1

KEY : *Incumbent

George Green Experience & occupation: Governor of Texas Board Appointee, 2X New Braunfels councilman, Alamo Area Council, retired uncompensated caregiver 830-730-3559

Toni Carter Experience & occupation: Strategic management, decision-making, budget, contracting, analytics, compliance and customer relations; president large HOA; senior manager 618-531-1935

Andrés Campos* Experience & occupation: Council member & mayor pro tem, AAMPO executive board member, 100+ year family history in ... AppleCare area manager www.andresfornewbraunfels.com

I base it on urgency and importance focused on tasks that align with district goals and values. How do you handle different priorities within the community?

The priorities of the city should have a positive impact on the citizens of New Braunfels. The priorities should be handled by greatest impact for citizens benefit and that are also attainable and affordable under the current taxation amount.

I listen to resident feedback, engage with stakeholders and prioritize based on community values and needs, long term impact and available resources. My goal is to balance economic growth, infrastructure and quality of life while ensuring transparency and collaboration in decision-making.

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

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Election

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

New Braunfels City Council, Place 2

KEY : *Incumbent

Michael Capizzi Occupation & experience: 27 years in infrastructure and budgeting, experienced in community communication, collaboratively resolves complex issues, leadership... www.capizzifordistrict2.com 830-302-6065

Christopher Willis* Occupation & experience: current councilman, Texas Certified Municipal Official, Texas Leadership Fellow, active community volunteer, Army Airborne Veteran https://Willis4District2.com 830-660-2244

What are your top three priorities that you would like to achieve if elected?

Smart planning: advocate for well-designed amenities, businesses and public spaces to make District 2 a great place to live, work and play. Traffic and infrastructure: fast-track critical road improvements and public services through smart investments and public- private partnerships. Stronger community voice: hold town halls, provide transparency and take...

My top priorities are to champion the community-led strategic plan, continuing to advocate for balanced growth between commercial and residential, and continuing to be a strong voice for road work needs across the district and for New Braunfels’ interests on the [Texas Department of Transportation] projects.

How do you handle different priorities within the community?

I prioritize issues based on three key factors. Quality of life: does it improve traffic, safety, housing or public amenities? Long-term solutions: is it a lasting fix or just a temporary patch? Financial responsibility: are we using taxpayer dollars wisely? My professional expertise, combined with years as a District 2 resident, gives me the insight to make informed decisions that benefit families, businesses and our community’s future.

I will address community priorities by continuing to engage with my monthly “Council Connect” events so we can keep our regular and collaborative decision-making interaction. We also need to align initiatives with residents’ needs, utilizing resources effectively to ensure balanced development to improve the quality of life for all residents.

How do you approach collaboration with the other council members and city stakeholders?

Collaboration is about leadership, not politics. With real-world experience building high-performing teams and bringing stakeholders together, I ensure clear communication, common-sense solutions, and actionable results. As a 16-year resident of District 2, I understand the community’s needs and will deliver effective solutions.

My council collaboration is strong, fueled by shared readings and discussions about learned alternative options. My community ties, built through extensive volunteerism over several years, provide me with deep stakeholder understanding and open communication channels on diverse issues.

How do you plan to involve residents in decision-making processes?

I’ll prioritize transparency and accessibility by involving residents through: regular town halls and community meetings for real dialogue. Interactive digital platforms or community advisory boards for surveys and feedback. Open-door leadership to ensure availability. I’ll ensure you’re informed before decisions are made, and your concerns will be actively considered.

During my time on council, I have prioritized direct access to the council. My number is available and I schedule monthly weekend meetings for residents to meet with me to engage in conversation. I’ve also sought input from community groups and utilized the city’s different advisory committees for focused feedback.

NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION

Election

Comal ISD, Place 6

KEY : *Incumbent

Giovianne Washington Occupation & experience: Workforce Development Manager, board member, Bexar Technical Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, 8 years www.facebook.com/people/giovianne-washington- comal-isd-smd-6/61572994397185/?_rdr 210-915-0880

Amanda Jones* Occupation & experience: 2022-current CISD school board trustee, Treasurer. South Texas Territory Manager for a Medical Nutrition Company www.re-electjones.com 210-884-1848

What are your top three priorities that you would like to achieve if elected?

1. Prioritizing high academic prociency 2. Ensuring college and career readiness for all students 3. Teacher recruitment and retention

1. Provide opportunities for all in CISD, focusing on all students’ current and future needs. 2. Remain scally responsible within the district while committed to our teachers and sta to be competitively compensated. 3. Continue to support safe and eective learning environments for all students, teachers and sta.

What challenges do you think the district is currently facing, and what is your plan to address those?

Parents, sta and students need to have condence that their needs, including safety, jobs and education will be met. Texas has allotted a limited amount of money with which to fund public education and with no new funding in sight. The board’s role will be to examine expenditures very carefully.

Public funding: Advocate for public education with similar districts. Work with local and state representatives to understand Comal ISD’s value in our area and challenges relevant to our district needs. Growth: Continue connecting with developers to maximize opportunities while continuing to maintain scal responsibility of building/ occupying campuses...

In the event of budget constraints, what are potential solutions you would advocate for to balance the budget?

This past year the Texas Legislature did not provide additional funding for public schools. This means that CISD is looking at signicant budget cuts from programs to stang. I want to ensure that parents in SMD 6 have a say in all cost reductions that CISD will propose.

Stay active in the push for public education funding while working with and supporting Dr. Chapman, the Comal ISD team and members of our community to best support students needs to grow greatness.

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BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

Comal ISD District, Place 7

KEY: *Incumbent

Orlando OJ Dona Jr. Occupation & experience: College Adjunct Professor, teacher, private business owner. Comal ISD, retired teacher, certied Texas teacher and principal, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel 830-730-8666

David Krawczynski* Occupation & experience: business owner. Three years as SMD 7, Comal ISD board of trustees representative

Parent-Teacher-Administration communications, especially when it comes to area of discipline and improving student achievement in school; ensure every student has the ability to engage in something extracurricular—sports, music, clubs, etc. What are your top 3 priorities that you would like to achieve if elected?

1. Accountability and execution of 5-year plan; 2. Strengthening scal responsibility; 3. Enhancing community trust

CISD has the largest-growing population in the country; building and manning appropriate learning facilities given this growth is a top priority. Transparency in operations seems to be a common problem in school districts; CISD is no exception. What challenges do you think the district is currently facing, and what is your plan to address those?

As a school board member seeking re-election, my focus remains on ensuring that Comal ISD stays on course with our ve-year plan while maintaining diligent oversight. Our district faces three primary challenges: sustained growth, budget management, and student performance. Addressing these challenges requires strategic planning, transparency, and a commitment to…

I would seek community involvement and sponsorship; cut positions in district oces; review and eliminate positions within district schools that do not provide direct value to student learning. In the event of budget constraints, what are potential solutions you would advocate for to balance the budget?

Comal ISD, like many districts across Texas, faces signicant budget constraints in the coming years. While we have one of the lowest eective tax rates in the state and remain committed to scal conservatism, we must be proactive in nding solutions to maintain high-quality education while balancing the budget responsibly...

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State

BY HANNAH NORTON

Texas lawmakers launch competing plans to raise educator salaries

Put in perspective

The base amount of per-student funding Texas public schools receive, known as the basic allot- ment, was last raised to $6,160 in 2019. HB 2 would raise the basic allotment to $6,380, while the Senate proposal would not increase the allotment.

would raise base per-student school funding by $220, overhaul special education funding, create a state-funded teacher residency program and more. Buckley said March 4 that the funding boost and other provisions of the bill would result in “a signicant pay increase” for educators, though some advocacy groups disagreed. “We’ll end up negotiating [the] dierences, but we want to make sure in the Senate that we’re listening to our districts, that we’re listening to our teachers, and that we are providing direct funding, incentives and compensation,” Creighton told reporters Feb. 26. HB 2 was left pending in the House Public Education Committee on March 6.

Two separate plans to raise salaries for public school teachers are moving through Texas’ legislative process. State senators unanimously passed a $4.7 billion teacher pay bill Feb. 26. About a week later, a Texas House committee heard over 12 hours of testimony on a far-reaching school nance bill. Senate Bill 26, by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would raise salaries for teachers in their third and fth years in the classroom, with larger pay bumps for educators in small school districts. The bill also proposes expanding a program designed to help certain teachers earn six gure salaries. House Bill 2, by Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado,

School funding

Current basic allotment

Basic allotment adjusted for ination

$7,500+

$8K

$6K

$6,160

$4K 0

2019

2024

SOURCES: RAISE YOUR HAND TEXAS AND TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE COMMUNITY IMPACT

Varied approaches Senate Bill 26 focuses on pay raises for teachers with at least three years of experience, while House Bill 2 would adjust several areas of school funding.

Also of note

Senate Bill 26

House Bill 2

Raising teacher salaries is one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s top priorities this year. “When this session ends, teacher pay is going to be at an all-time high, and… that will hopefully attract and retain more teachers,” Abbott told Community Impact in a Feb. 7 interview. The average Texas teacher was paid $62,474 during the 2023-24 school year, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. Nationwide, the average teacher salary was $71,699 during the same period, the National Education Association estimated.

Would raise base per-student school funding from $6,160 to $6,380 Proposes allocating special education funding based on students’ individual needs , rather than where they receive services Would prohibit schools from hiring uncertied educators to teach core subjects Would give prospective teachers who complete classroom residencies a $3,000+ stipend

In districts with over 5,000 students: Proposes $2,500 raises for teachers with 3-4 years in the classroom Proposes $5,500 raises for teachers with 5+ years of experience

In school districts with 5,000 students or less: Proposes $5,000 raises for teachers with 3-4 years of experience

Proposes $10,000 raises for teachers with 5+ years in the classroom

Both bills would expand the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program designed to put teachers on the path to a six-gure salary, to apply to more teachers.

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINECOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Development

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

2 amenities coming soon to Midtown Mayfair Developers will break ground on two new ame- nities within Midtown Mayfair—the development’s recreation and retail hub—this spring. The details The amenities will be part of Midtown’s rst phase of construction at 5708 Guthrie Trail, New Braunfels, which includes two recreational buildings for the neighborhood. One of the two buildings will be a 7,500-square-foot open air pavilion called Cele- bration Hall and a pool house, both of which are slated to break ground April. The pool house will feature two pools, including one for families and one catered toward adults, Kristi Robinson, vice president of SouthStar Communities marketing and community relations told Community Impact .

600 more homes on tap for Veramendi Veramendi’s fourth phase will add 600 more homes o Word Parkway in New Braunfels by 2026, development ocials said. The specics Developers broke ground on the fourth phase of the community in October. How- ever, only 215 lots are under construction right now, Co-CEO Garrett Mechler said. The new phase will oer homes from Highland Homes, Perry Homes and Drees Custom Homes. It will also consist of a new park amenity, sports court and resort-style pool. Looking ahead The fourth phase is slated to be completed by early- to mid-2026, Mechler said.

Celebration Hall will be a 7,500 square-foot open air pavilion.

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Looking ahead Celebration Hall and the pool house are slated to open in summer 2026.

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Business

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

Einhorn Training Co. forges community through tness

Taylor Reber realized the importance of having a gym community after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closing of gyms and other businesses across the country, which is what inspired her and her husband, Grant, to open their own gym in New Braunfels. Einhorn Training Co. opened its doors to the New Braunfels community in October 2020. What they oer The membership-based gym oers one-hour functional tness classes at various times through- out the day. “Functional tness is taking the normal move- ment patterns that we do in everyday life and training them in the gym, maybe at heavier loads or higher rep counts so that way life in general feels easier,” Reber said. Training modalities include strength training, weightlifting, plyometrics, Olympic lifting and gymnastic skills. All programming is written in-house, meaning workouts are not outsourced from a general company, Reber added. A membership for unlimited classes costs $175 per month and a three days a week membership costs $150 per month. In their own words “You don’t have to be in shape to get in shape,” Reber said. “Don’t let fear stop you from showing up—just show up and give us what you got and we’ll meet you where you are and we’ll help take you where you want to go.”

Some workouts are cardio-based and others are geared more toward heavy lifting.

COURTESY EINHORN TRAINING CO.

725

149 Ferryboat Lane, New Braunfels www.einhorntrainingco.com

Einhorn Training Co. is owned by Taylor and Grant Reber.

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