EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Leander ISD & Austin Community College
COMPILED BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
HIGHLIGHTS LEANDER ISD The board of trustees adopted a property tax rate of $1.2746 on Aug. 18, which is a 4.7% decrease from the 2021- 2022 tax rate. The maintenance and operations rate is $0.9446, and the interest and sinking rate is $0.33. Property values in 2022 increased by 27.05% from 2021, according to district data. With these property value totals, LISD’s recapture payment dropped $5 million and is now projected to be $31.2 million. AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE The board of trustees unanimously approved a $467 million budget Aug. 1. The budget allocates $20.8 million for compensation— about double the amount in the scal year 2021-22 budget—and will provide all employees with a raise. Leander ISD board of trustees meets Sept. 8 and 22 at 6:15 p.m. at 300 S. West Drive, Leander. 512-570-0000. www.leanderisd.org Austin Community College board of trustees meets Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Room 201, Austin. 512-223-7000. www.austincc.edu MEETINGS WE COVER
LISD’s newest school, North Elementary, welcomes students for 202223 year
Leander ISD calls voter-approval tax rate election for Nov. 8 LEANDER ISD In a 5-1 vote, the board of trustees called a voter-ap- proval tax rate election for the Nov. 8 election at its Aug. 18 meeting. A VATRE is required if a district sets a maintenance and operations rate above a rate set by state law. Leander ISD’s VATRE would increase the M&O tax rate while lowering the interest and sinking rate, which pays for bond debt. Early voting begins Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 4. If passed: Provides the district at least $20 million in revenue If failed: LISD would face a $35 million budget decit Leander ISD's VATRE would provide the district with more funds for operations. ELECTION OUTCOMES
LEANDER ISD North Elementary School, Leander ISD’s 29th elemen- tary and newest school, opened to students Aug. 17. “Amazing kids, amazing com- munity and an incredible sta ,” Superintendent Bruce Gearing said. “[We are] happy to be on a new campus and continue to support the community.” Located in the northern portion of the district—where the district is growing the fastest—NES aims to relieve capacity constraints at Lark- spur and Plain elementary schools. With the school being located in the Bryson neighborhood, NES Principal Lara Labbe-Maginel said the community can expect partnerships with the campus. Design and construction of NES were funded through the 2017 voter-approved bond. All of the classrooms at NES have windows between them that allow teachers
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to collaborate, Labbe-Maginel said. The campus also has neighborhood space—meaning it was built with wider hallways that are fully furnished—where teachers can plan collaborative activities. Although LISD is experiencing some teacher shortages, NES is fully sta ed, Labbe-Maginel said. Teachers came to the school from inside and outside the district. “We’re just super excited to be a part of this community and build a culture and traditions that are going to impact students for many, many years to come,” she said.
SOURCE: LEANDER ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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CEDAR PARK LEANDER EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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