Education
BY HANNAH NORTON & CHLOE YOUNG
District talks delaying campus openings Georgetown ISD may postpone the opening of its 12th elementary school and fth middle school until 2027 to reduce expenses amid a mounting budget shortfall. GISD o cials discussed ways to cut costs at a Jan. 12 board workshop as the district observes a slowing of its projected enrollment growth. Additionally, the district may consider calling a voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, to increase its tax rate this fall. The big picture GISD has been preparing to open Elementary School No. 12 and Middle School No. 5 in August o Patriot Way and SH 130 near East View High School. At the Jan. 12 workshop, district o cials shared that GISD is projected to face a $1.75 million budget shortfall in scal year 2026-27 if both campuses open as planned this fall. This projected shortfall
Private schools OK’d for ESA program There have been 775 Texas private schools and prekindergarten providers approved to participate in the state’s new education sav- ings account program, per a map released by the state comptroller’s o ce in early January. Under the $1 billion program, eligible families will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to a private school or homeschool them beginning in the 2026-27 school year. The local impact Four Georgetown-area schools have been approved to accept ESAs: • Grace Academy
By the numbers Proposed 2026-27 budget shortfall or surplus if:
Neither school opens: +1.25M Both schools open: -$1.75M Only MS No. 5 opens: -$575,000 Only ES No. 12 opens: +1.05M
With $1M-$1.5M in budget cuts
SOURCE: GEORGETOWN ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
assumes the district makes $1 million-$1.5 million in budget cuts, raises class sizes and does not provide raises for sta . Opening just one school, assuming the same budget reductions occur, or neither school could lessen the shortfall or lead to a surplus. Quote of note “My heart wants to open these two schools,” Superintendent Devin Padavil said. “My head is saying, ‘Hold on.’ Because if we open both schools next year, the concern I want the trustees to wrestle with is, ‘Do we put ourselves in a posi- tion of causing a nancial hole for the district?’”
• Grace Episcopal School • St. Helen Catholic School • Zion Lutheran School
Georgetown ISD trustee Stephanie Blanck resigns
time for family and other responsibilities, and do not feel I can ful ll this important role with the attention it deserves,” Blanck said. Stay tuned The board is expected to call a May 2 election for Places 4 and 5. Kincheloe said she plans to run for the full Place 4 term.
After nearly six years of service on the George- town ISD board of trustees, Place 4 member Stepha- nie Blanck resigned at a Jan. 12 board workshop. The board unanimously voted to appoint GISD alumna and registered nurse Laura Kincheloe to ll the Place 4 seat until the May 2 election. What they’re saying “I need to step back to personally take more
NEW STYLE SHU Locally Made at 1/2 the Significantly more CHLOE YOUNG COMMUNITY IMPACT Place 4 trustee and retired Georgetown ISD educator Stephanie Blanck resigned Jan. 12 after nearly six years of service on the board of trustees.
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