South Central Austin Edition | March 2025

Development

Education

BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ

BY BEN THOMPSON

Austin ISD teachers on path to higher salaries Eligible Austin ISD teachers can now earn higher salaries through the Texas Education Agency’s Teacher Incentive Allotment, or TIA. The details AISD was accepted into the TIA program which rewards “high-performing” teachers with higher salaries. Eligible teachers can earn $3,000 to $28,000 per year through TIA based on the teacher’s designation. TIA designates teachers as Recognized, Exemplary or Master using data on appraisals and student growth submitted by AISD, according to a news release. Over 600 teachers representing 95% of cam- puses across the district met approved appraisal and student growth standards to be submitted for TIA designation, according to the news release. The designations bring in additional funding to the district, with 90% going directly to the

2 towers proposed at light rail connection site in South Central Waterfront Plans for new high-rises south of downtown at a key juncture in Austin’s Project Connect rail are close to securing nal city approval. The overview thumbs-up in December and a second approval on Feb. 27. Their nal vote could come on March 27, after press time. 200 E. Riverside PUD BARTON SPRINGS RD.

AISD, Dallas Cowboys team up to start girls’ ag football league Austin ISD and the Dallas Cowboys are partnering to launch a high school girls ag football league in the district. The overview The Girls FLAG Football League will begin their competitive play this spring. Each Aus- tin ISD high school will form a varsity-level 7-on-7 team to participate in the league, a news release said. AISD is one of 11 Texas districts to partner with the Cowboys to start girls ag football leagues. Each participating school district receives grant funds for the program, includ- ing funding for coaching stipends, team uniforms, equipment packages from USA Football and more, the news release said.

"We’re excited to be a part of the TIA system which encourages teachers to stay in the classroom. Our

hope is they continue to do the best work of their careers in Austin ISD.” BRANDI HOSACK,

City Council signaled in February the developers could meet an aordable housing requirement by paying into the city’s housing fund rather than include income-restricted units onsite. Speaking for property owners the Hunt family, attorney Richard Suttle said the fee option ensures taller towers can be built instead of a smaller residential building. He also noted the property’s relationship to the planned Project Connect transit system. Zooming in The property o Riverside Drive may end up as a hub for the proposed Project Connect branches. Current designs call for southern, eastern and central rail lines to meet at 200 E. Riverside Drive alongside the elevated Waterfront Station. Suttle said the project team has faced diculties with the city zoning case while negotiating over

AISD CHIEF TALENT STRATEGY OFFICER

The rezoning of 200 E. Riverside Drive would allow for two high-rise towers up to 500 feet, or potentially 50 stories, near the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. They’d include about 1.4 million square feet of oces and 30,000 square feet for retail. The property is being rezoned as a planned unit development, or PUD, which can see greater building allowances traded for public benets. A quick note A broader city framework for new development in the surrounding South Central Waterfront dis- trict is stalled. Still, several other high-rise project plans around the district remain in progress. What happened City ocials gave the Riverside PUD an initial

LADY BIRD LAKE

90% of funds go to eligible teachers 600 district teachers met the appraisal standards

teacher if they remain TIA-eligible based on their role, the release said. AISD is hoping to expand their TIA eligibility in 2025-26 to include special education teachers and content and dyslexia interventionist sta who are supporting the general education areas included in the 2024-25 eligibility, ocials said. The TIA was created by a 2019 state law that aims to help top-performing teachers reach six-gure salaries.

rail and station designs with the Austin Transit Partnership, the entity overseeing Project Connect. Still, he said the property owners plan to save space for transit infrastructure. ATP executive vice president Jennifer Pyne said the entity is coordinating with property owners on the rail blueprint, and aims to minimize impacts to adjacent properties where possible before moving for any right-of-way acquisitions.

BRODIE LANE 4970 W Hwy 290 (512) 366-8260

NORTH LAMAR 914 North Lamar (512) 214-6665

SOUTHPARK MEADOWS 9900 S IH-35 Frontage Rd (512) 280-7400