BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
The impact
What to expect
Members of the grassroots groups have suggested alternative cost-saving solutions to closing schools, such as implementing an open enrollment policy and adding a paid pre-K option at underenrolled campuses. One overarching theme is the potential loss of neighborhood schools, which members say could interrupt the community’s social infrastructure. “Several apartment buildings with low-income students are zoned to that school, so a lot of them walk,” Steiner Ranch Elementary parent Rachel Lilla said.
Next steps
District administration hosted community conversation events in late August with the elementary communities that could be impacted, and further clarification on the long-range planning process and budget was slated to take place during the Sept. 9 board workshop after press time. The district could also hold a bond election next year, but some community members have voiced concerns that commitments made during LISD’s last bond in 2023 have not been followed through. An April 2023 district announcement stated that passage of Proposition A in the bond would not result in the closing of any schools. “A lot of the gaps in what they have said through board meetings have either been contradicted completely or not followed through on,” Cypress Elementary parent Erin Osmond said. “There were promises made about the 2023 bond that no school would be closed.”
2025
Sept. 18: board reviews feedback from community conversations Oct. 9: board votes on optimization actions
2026
Feb. 13 : last day to call for a bond election
May 2: election day if a bond was called
NOTE: THESE DATES ARE BASED ON INFORMATION AS OF PRESS TIME. SOURCE: LEANDER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Still, a charter for the Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee—which makes bond package recommendations—was set to be on a future board agenda for approval as several campuses approach 20 years old, Trimble said. The board is set to vote on optimization actions Oct. 9.
“We realize the district is going to have to make hard decisions. ... What we want is transparency, accountability [and] data-driven decisions.” MEGAN DUDO, CYPRESS ELEMENTARY PARENT
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