New Braunfels Edition | September 2024

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New Braunfels Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 10 SEPT. 7OCT. 5, 2024

2024 Education Guide

Comal ISD faces $23.6M shortfall amid growth

BY SHAHERYAR KHAN

As one of the fastest-growing school districts in Texas, Comal ISD is entering the 2024-25 school year with a projected $23.6 million budget shortfall. The district’s leadership is working to balance continued growth with scal responsibility, CISD Superintendent John Chap- man said. As the district prepares to educate 30,000 students this year, Chapman highlighted the impact of ination and recent legislative changes on the district’s nances. “The district is dealing with inationary prices as costs for most goods and services keep escalat- ing,” Chapman said in an email statement. Recent state Senate Bills 2 and 12 reduce the amount of property taxes the district is able to collect and retain, he said. CISD lost $14 million in funding for the 2023-24 school year due to property tax compression, despite an increase of 752 students com- pared to the previous year, Chap- man said. Looking forward, the district is also considering forming a committee of community mem- bers and sta to explore potential cost-saving measures and provide recommendations.

From left, rst grade students Lily Whitaker and Emma Alexander attend the rst day of school at Johnson Ranch Elementary.

CONTINUED ON 18

COURTESY COMAL ISD

Also in this issue

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Education: For those residing in the district, don’t miss the New Braunfels ISD special election for board of trustees District 4 (Page 11)

Nonprofit: Read about the local Texas Wildlife Association’s eorts for wildlife conservation and land protection (Page 34)

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

A VARIETY OF NEW HOMES NOW SELLING. 6 MODELS OPEN. Along I-35, not far from historic Gruene, a community with a friendly hometown vibe and a healthy side of country is coming to life. Gracious public parks, inviting trails and unique experiences—including Midtown Mayfair, our planned shopping, recreation and workplace district—are taking shape. Inspired new homes are selling and models are now open. Welcome to the beginning of Mayfair. We invite you to join us. New homes from the $400s.

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Thalia Guzman Shaheryar Khan Parks Kugle Jarrett Whitener Graphic Designers Alissa Foss

Gloria Gonzalez Melissa Johnson Sabrina Musachia Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Senior Art Production Manager Haley Grace Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara

Kayla Brooks General Manager

Eric Weilbacher Editor

Heather Demere Publisher

Correction: Volume 7, Issue 9 The story titled “New Braunfels considers adjusting solid waste rates” on Page 9 contained incorrect gures. The 202223 revenues and expenditures were $11,335,534 and $13,197,547 respectively. 202324 revenues and expenditures were $11,319,073 and $11,669,956.

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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION

Impacts

experience. Sim racing is a virtual motor sport that simulates real-world racing. • Opened June 2024 • 651 N. Business I-35, Ste. 240, New Braunfels • www.oasissimracing.com 4 River Kids Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Kristen Self is board certified pediatric dentist. Dr. Self said she focuses on reducing the practice’s environmental footprint by using bamboo toothbrushes, biodegradable floss and BPA-free materials. • Opened late August • 1058 FM 306, Ste. 104, New Braunfels • www.riverkidsnb.com 5 Scott Foley Photography The photography studio opened near Noli’s Vite Italian Kitchen. With over 30 years of experience in photography, owner and Air Force veteran Scott Foley offers headshots, portraits, product branding and commercial photography. • Opened July 1 • 19A Gruene Park Drive, New Braunfels • www.scottfoleyheadshots.com 6 Taco Plugz The California-style Mexican food truck offers carne asada fries, California burritos, potato tacos, potato

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7 The Sauer Kraut The food truck serves traditional German dishes. Owner Eric Moses said the menu consists of a rotating selection of authentic German dishes, each available on specific

2 Le Petit Sweet The shop offers a wide variety of bulk candies as well as nostalgic and trendy candies and Owner Chelsea Rogers said she intends to expand into international candies. Rogers plans to expand to include children’s gifts and other novelty items in the future. • Opened Aug. 2 • 264 W. San Antonio St., New Braunfels • Facebook: Le Petit Sweet 725

Now open

1 Demi’s Sweets A new Greek coffee and pastries food truck opened in front of the Columbus Club Hall. Owner Constance Tina Phardis said they offer some of the same baked goods her father once did, along with continental pastries and Greek and American coffee.

days of the week. • Opened Aug. 8

• 385 Landa St., New Braunfels • Facebook: The Sauer Kraut

8 Urbanivys Boutique The new boutique is owned by Asia Vinthaxay and offers contemporary clothing styles, including tops, bottoms and dresses. The jewelry bar in the shop will allow

• Grand opening Aug. 15, 10 a.m. • 111 Landa St., New Braunfels • www.linktr.ee/demissweetsk

3 Oasis Sim Racing The business offers customers a simulated racing

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BY THALIA GUZMAN & SHAHERYAR KHAN

13 The Weighted Plate The local bar which was previously located on the deck of Top Teer Strength & Conditioning, is set to relocate. Owner Cody Teer said his aim is to provide a relaxed, historically immersive environment where patrons can enjoy coffee, cocktails and dining experiences. • Opening early September

customers personalize their own necklaces, bracelets and earrings. • Opening Aug. 24 • 2165 Gabriels Place, Ste. 1102, New Braunfels • Instagram: Urbanivys Boutique

Expansions

Coming soon

• 5441 FM 1102, New Braunfels • Facebook: The Weighted Plate

9 Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant The New Braunfels location is owned by John Henry Ybarra. Outdoor patio seating and a bar area will also be added. Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant has locations in Kyle, San Marcos and Schertz. • Opening by end of September • 1050 FM 306, Ste. 101, New Braunfels • www.garciasmexicanrestaurantcentraltexas.com 10 La Bal de Noce The event venue in the New Braunfels MarketPlace retail center will host intimate gatherings for up to 100 guests, according to owner Linda Hoppe. Customers will be able to book the space for weddings, baby showers, graduation parties, corporate events and more. • Opening Sept. 26 • 675 N. Business I-35, Ste. 810, New Braunfels • www.labaldenoce.com 11 The Haus Escape Room The immersive entertainment venue challenges participants to solve puzzles and find clues to escape within 60 minutes. The venue will also feature a bar. • Opening Sept. 6 • 133 Hampe St., New Braunfels • www.escapenb.com

Expansions

14 Betty Lou Coffee Co. The business is set to open its second location within New Braunfels as it approaches its one-year anniversary. Courtney Dallimore, owner of Betty Lou, is expanding her coffee business by opening a second location inside The Weighted Plate. • Opening early October

16 Newman & Company The 5,400-square-foot building will provide a state of the art facility with an increased number of treatment rooms for expanded services, according to owner Rhi Newman. Newman & Company is currently located at 125 S. Elliot Knox Blvd., New Braunfels. The med spa offers over 250 services including body contouring, derma fillers, Botox, lash treatments, microblading, and more. • Opening spring 2025 • 617 Gruene Road, New Braunfels • www.newmancmpy.com

• 5441 FM 1102, New Braunfels • www.bettyloucoffeeco.com

In the news

15 Golden City Asian Cuisine The restaurant formerly known as J Plus Asian Cuisine is now under new management. The restaurant serves popular Chinese dishes, including lo mein, orange chicken, kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef and General Tso’s chicken. The restaurant also serves an assortment of sushi. • Opened Aug. 15 • 103 S. I-35, New Braunfels • www.goldencitytx.com Megabus The national bus service has discontinued its routes in Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, according to a news release. Operations in these cities were discontinued Aug. 16, per the release. Texas tickets and routes are no longer available on the company’s website. Along with Texas, Megabus canceled route and ticketing services in cities along the East Coast. • www.us.megabus.com

Closings

17 Stave Beer & Wine House Owner Clayton Hennigan announced the closure at the beginning of August of the business he opened in November 2019. Hennigan expressed deep appreciation and affection for the business’ patrons throughout the years, who he said made the tavern their “home away from home.” • Closed Aug. 25 • 540 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels • Facebook: Stave Beer & Wine

Relocations

12 Gold Dust Hair Studio The salon relocated from the Garden Ridge area. Owner Renee Billeaudeaux said the hair salon offers a variety of hair services, including highlights and coloring, as well as spa services such as lash and brow treatments. • Opened May 7 • 1878 Herbelin Road, Ste. 4101, New Braunfels • www.golddusthairstudio.com

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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION

Government

New Braunfels balances budget for FY 2024-25 New Braunfels City Manager Robert Camareno presented the proposed fiscal year 2024-25 budget to City Council on Aug. 5, highlighting a balanced budget and a minor adjustment to the tax rate. The breakdown For FY 2024-25, the proposed tax rate is set at $0.4089 per $100 valuation. This rate remains effectively flat from last year, with a shift of half a penny from debt service to general funds, Camareno said. Specifically, the debt service portion of the tax rate is $0.2039, while the general fund portion is $0.2050.

Comal County officials propose new tax rates Officials presented several options for fiscal year 2024-25 and scheduled a public hearing to discuss potential impacts. The details The approved budget totals $162.06 mil- lion. The proposed tax rates represent a decrease from the previous year’s voter-ap- proval rate of $0.428 per $100 valuation. Salaries of elected officials were part of the discussion, Comal County Judge Sherman Krause said.

New Braunfels tax rate history

Maintenance and operations rate Interest and sinking rate

$0.5

$0.4

$0.3

$0.2

$0.1

2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25*

Fiscal year

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

*THE FY 2024-25 TAX RATE HAS NOT BEEN FORMALLY ADOPTED

cover one-time costs, maintaining consistency with past practices, Camareno said. Key areas include employee compensation, technology improvements, and public safety enhancements. City council will continue to review the proposal, with public hearings and final adoption set for Sept. 9.

Proposed tax rates for FY 2024-25 per $100 valuation

The proposed budget includes: • Total revenues: $210.4 million • Total expenditures: $322.6 million

No-new-revenue rate

$0.264

The city plans to utilize its fund balance—or leftover reserves from the prior budget year—to

Voter-approval rate

$0.378

SOURCE: COMAL COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY SHAHERYAR KHAN & JARRETT WHITENER

Guadalupe County sets budget FY2024-25 The proposed budget and tax rate for Guadalupe County have been posted, with a public hearing and adoption of the budget held Sept. 3. What you need to know The proposed tax rate for fiscal year 2024-25 is $0.3167 per $100 valuation. This is a decrease from the FY 2023-24 rate of $0.3231 per $100 valuation. According to the proposed budget, the new property value for the year is approximately $855 million. $4.4 million is expected to be raised from property taxes, which is a 6.5% increase compared to the previous budget. While the tax rate is decreasing, property own- ers may see an increase in annual tax payments due to increasing home appraisal values. Appraisal values for homes in Guadalupe County can be checked through the Guadalupe County Appraisal District.

Gruene Road property

Budgeting capital projects According to an Aug. 15 budget overview, the proposed budget will include capital improvement projects such as: • Elections office improvements • Schertz Annex improvements • Justice of the Peace and Constable improvements • Precinct 4 in Marion improvements • Animal Control Division improvements • Emergency Operations Center/warehouse • Emergency Response Center • Additional funds for road construction, flood and drainage study, and a master plan of more than 160 acres are included in the budget

337

Gruene area project moves forward The New Braunfels Economic Develop- ment Corporation is evaluating plans to redevelop a 16-acre property at Gruene Road and Common Street, as discussed at an Aug. 12 City Council meeting. The focus is on creating a mixed-use development, with three different possible scenarios depending on the city’s needs. Next steps include contacting developers and determining funding.

SOURCE: GUADALUPE COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Budget explained The proposed budget has an estimated revenue of $88 million with estimated expenditures of $100 million. According to county documents, revenues anticipated to be raised from new property added to the tax rolls this year is $2.7 million.

NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY SHAHERYAR KHAN

Education Edition

2024

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Education Edition! This guide features the latest updates and resources about local K-12 public school options in your community, ranging from new campuses to budget details to bond elections. The story below features a special election coming up in November for the District 4 seat in New Braunfels ISD. Page 13 examines what happened to cause a slow down in application numbers for the FAFSA and includes a graph on application numbers in Comal and New Braunfels ISDs. Pages 14-15 provide an update on plans for the Texas State Technical College’s local campus, and Pages 16-17 is an interview with Bob Popinski, a director at Raise Your Hand Texas, a nonprot organization that advocates for reforming and raising standards in public education in Texas. In the interview, Popinski explains the funding mechanism of public education in Texas, and he provides insight into why districts are currently facing budget shortfalls. Our cover story on Pages 18-19 explores how those funding struggles are specically putting pressure on Comal ISD, despite its growth. We look at how the district is trying to retain talent in the midst of a budget crunch.

What's inside

FAFSA changes, delays lead to decrease in application numbers (Page 13)

Kayla Brooks General Manager kbrooks@ communityimpact.com

Texas State Technical College’s local campus begins to take shape (Pages 1415)

Comal ISD faces budget shortfall for rst time (Pages 1819)

NBISD accepting candidates for District 4 trustee special election

New Braunfels ISD is currently accepting appli- cations for candidates interested in running for the District 4 board of trustees seat. The election, scheduled for Nov. 5, will ll the unexpired term of former trustee Jackie Sanders, who resigned in April due to personal reasons, according to an Aug. 1 news release from NBISD. Some context The District 4 seat became vacant following the resignation of Jackie Sanders, who had served on the board of trustees until her departure in April. The NBISD board of trustees voted to hold a spe- cial election to ll her unexpired term, according to the release. Sanders beat incumbent John E. Tucker in May of 2023, who was a former NBISD trustee from 2020-2023. The conditions The district approved changes to the sin- gle-member trustee election districts in June, after hiring a demographer to review and recommend adjustments to better represent the NBISD com- munity, according to the release.

Applicants had until Aug. 20 to apply for candi- dacy and must be residing in District 4, according to district documents. To be eligible, candidates also had to meet criteria such as being a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, registered to vote in the district and not be a convicted felon. Meet the Candidates Two candidates declared their intent to run for the District 4 seat: • John E. Tucker: The former board trustee has more than 30 years of experience as an architect, primarily in school construction, according to the NBISD website. He worked for Dallas ISD from 1995-2011 leading contracting and procurement. • Will Moravits: Moravits is a college instructor at Texas State University where he teaches political science. Moravits is a husband and father of two children, according to the NBISD website and previously held positions as a school teacher and police ocer.

John E. Tucker

Will Moravits

New Braunfels

District 4 New Braunfels ISD

1044

WALNUT ST.

NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION

Education

BY SHAHERYAR KHAN

NBISD board approves $1.1M retention stipend The New Braunfels ISD board of trustees approved a one-time retention stipend aimed at addressing challenges related to retaining staff. The details The decision, made during an Aug. 12 board meeting, will provide financial incentive to district employees and will be funded through indirect costs from 2021 American Rescue Plan ESSER III federal grant funds totaling $1.125 million. “As we all know, retention continues to be a problem in the state,” said Kathy Kenney, chief human resources officer for NBISD, at a June 17 board meeting. “One way we improve employee retention is by offering one time precision payments.” The retention stipend will award $1,000 to full- time employees and $500 to part-time employees

NBISD to relocate Lamar Elementary New Braunfels ISD officials announced Aug. 7 that Lamar Elementary will relocate to the new Elementary 11 campus, set to open for the 2025-26 school year. The details Superintendent Laurelyn Arterbury said the move was a solution to capacity issues. The new campus is expected to accommo- date up to 750 students. Lamar Elementary will be in use until the relocation.

Getting the stipend

To qualify for the stipend, employees must: Be employed full-time or part-time with NBISD in a Teacher Retirement System of Texas- covered position. Have been employed between May 24 and Sept. 15. Have no pending or future separation notices filed during this period.

Not be on administrative leave, whether paid or unpaid, during the same timeframe.

SOURCE: NBISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

who meet the eligibility requirements. According to board documents, purposes of the payment also include improving student outcomes, remediating student learning loss and rewarding returning employees for performing under current hardships. Eligible employees will receive their payments by the end of September.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY ATIRIKTA KUMAR

FAFSA changes, delays lead to decrease in application numbers

Also of note

The delayed rollout of the form in 2023 is likely to impact students from low-income families because affordability comes into question, said Carla Fletcher, a research consultant at Trellis Strategies. “I think we are going to see some impacts on who is completing the FAFSA and then who is moving on to make decisions about their education because their financial aid packages have been delayed,” Fletcher said. “And so that can really impact their decision making. They might not know which school they can truly afford because they don’t know what kind of aid they’re getting.” Students whose parents do not have a Social Security number have also been “adversely impacted” by the recent FAFSA changes, Ashton said. Texans who do not qualify for FAFSA may be eligible to apply for the Texas Application for State Financial Aid. In 2001, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1528, which allowed students who are not U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents or eligible noncitizens, who are not eligible for federal aid, to apply for state aid at participating higher education institutions. Learn more about TASFA eligibility at www.highered.texas.gov. The U.S. Department of Education has said next year’s FAFSA form is set to open for all students on or before Dec. 1, according to an Aug. 7 news release.

Fewer high schoolers have applied for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid this year than in 2023, according to data from the National College Attainment Network. The form, which usually becomes available Oct. 1, was delayed by almost three months due to changes made to the application. It was not available for students until Dec. 31. In 2022, U.S. Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act. The revamped application came with fewer questions, a new way of calculating how much aid students qualify for, and a direct exchange of data between the Internal Revenue Service and FAFSA, according to the U.S. Department of Education. However, the delayed application process likely caused a decrease in the number of FAFSA applications, and this will have lasting effects

FAFSA completion rates in Texas

65%

65% 60% 0% 50% 55%

54.5%

54%

SOURCE: TRELLIS STRATEGIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT *THE FAFSA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT WENT INTO EFFECT IN TEXAS.

on graduating seniors, said Bryan Ashton, managing director at Trellis Strategies, a research and consulting firm focused on postsecondary education.

FAFSA completion rates

Zooming in

Class of 2023 Comal ISD seniors

As of the end of June, 54.5% of Texas’ class of 2024 had completed a FAFSA form, down from about 61% at the same time last year. Despite the decrease in total applications completed nationwide and statewide, Texas is ranked sixth in overall applications completed, according to the National College Attainment Network. Ashton said he believes this is in part due to a state law passed in 2019 requiring all graduating seniors to either complete a financial aid application or formally opt out.

1,048

-18.51%

Class of 2024

854

New Braunfels ISD seniors

Class of 2023 Class of 2024 378 326

-13.26%

SOURCE: NATIONAL COLLEGE ATTAINMENT NETWORK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION

Education

Texas State Technical College expands programs in Comal, Guadalupe counties

Texas State Technical College is working to expand its footprint around Comal County and Guadalupe County. Mike Anderson, provost of the New Braunfels campus, said the current campus in New Braunfels focuses on adjusting to demands within the job market. While the New Braunfels campus has been open for a year, the goal is to create a full campus which would oer additional programs regionally. In 2023 House Bill 4997 was approved, which added Comal and Guadalupe counties to Texas State Technical College’s territory. This bill was supported by the Economic Development Corporations of New Braunfels and Seguin, and spearheaded by state Rep. John Kuempel.

Prior to the passing of legislation, the college system oered services to the New Braunfels area as an expansion of the Hutto campus. Following the approval of the bill, the New Braunfels campus opened with limited programs oered. Anderson said there have been discussions to build a full campus featuring a larger selection of programs in Comal and Guadalupe County areas. “There have been two plots of land that have been in the news as potential spaces,” Anderson said. “At this point, that is ultimately a chancellor decision.” While there is no denitive timeline on the construction of a full campus, Anderson said he is condent that any expansions or new construction would be designed to meet the needs of the area.

TSTC New Braunfels oers certication in welding as one of the new programs oered in 2024.

COURTESY TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY JARRETT WHITENER

What else?

Stay tuned

In 2023 the New Braunfels campus began classes, oering vocational certications and programs. The program that the campus began with was part of the Texas Federation for Advanced Manufac- turing Education initiative, which allows students to attend classes while working for a local employer. “Once we got our campus designation and we got our accreditation taken care of for this site, we were able to expand our oerings,” Anderson said. Beginning in 2024, the campus was able to oer certications in Industrial Systems Mechanic-Elec- trical and in Structural Welding, according to the campus website. “There are a lot of companies in this area that we are able to partner with, and I think that is going to expand really quickly as we continue to grow in this area,” Anderson said. Diering from community colleges, TSTC receives state funding after students have been hired by a company, making student employability the primary goal.

In the future, the plan is to expand aspects of the current New Braunfels campus while making room for the construction of the full campus in Comal or Guadalupe County. Anderson said the primary goal of the campus is to work with local businesses, such as Caterpillar and other industries, to get students into the workforce. “We would certainly be interested in having something in the interim that gives us more space to use to expand the programs we have,” Anderson said. “There is nothing solid yet, but we are open to those discussions.” Anderson said applications open around early October, and students attend the college over a three-semester period with breaks in between each semester. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent by the start of the school year being applied for.

"We are designed to respond to industry. Our mission is to put more Texans in great

paying jobs." MIKE ANDERSON, PROVOST OF TSTC NEW BRAUNFELS

As of the 2024 school year, 80 students attend the New Braunfels campus, which puts classes at capacity. For those interested in learning more about college programs and applications, information can be found on the TSTC website.

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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION

Education

Bob Popinski discusses Texas public school funding challenges Amid high operating costs and stagnant state funding, public school districts across Texas have adopted budget shortfalls for fiscal year 2024-25. Last year, public education advocates urged law- makers to increase the basic allotment—which is the base amount of money schools receive per student annually and has not changed since 2019, when it was raised to $6,160. Community Impact interviewed Bob Popinski, the senior policy director for education policy nonprofit Raise Your Hand Texas, to learn more. How are Texas public schools funded? Right now, Texas is in the bottom 10 [states] for per-student funding. We’re more than $4,000 below the national average, according to a new National Education Association report.

[Texas uses] what is known as an equalized system, where the Legislature sets the amount of per-student funding and a district is guaranteed that amount. [District] revenue comes from local property taxes and general revenue from the state. On average, when you look at per-student fund- ing across the state, the funding that actually gets down into the classrooms—that pays for day-to-day operations like teachers and cafeteria workers and bus drivers and school principals—is roughly $10,000 per student, on average, across the state. Why are so many districts facing high budget shortfalls? Since 2019, the last time we saw any increase to our school funding formulas, inflation has gone up 22%. School districts are operating at roughly a $1,400 deficit from where they were in 2019. When you look at the basic allotment—[which is] kind of the building block for our school funding formula—it’s at $6,160, and that hasn’t been updated since 2019. Federal stimulus funding is ending. And school districts knew that, ... but it doesn’t mean that

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BY HANNAH NORTON

were about 24 recommendations in there. A lot of them focused on salary; a lot focused on training and retention of teachers. School districts are struggling to find certified teachers. In the 2022-23 school year, approxi- mately 15,300 teachers were hired in Texas with- out certification. That’s a drastic increase, about a 650% increase, from 2010. And it’s especially acute in rural and small towns, where nearly 75% of teachers were uncertified. Research shows [hiring uncertified teachers] can have negative consequences on academic achieve- ment. If you have a new teacher that doesn’t have the skills to be ready on day one, obviously your kids aren’t going to be achieving where you want them to be. It’s also causing high turnover. Only about 37% of uncertified teachers are still teaching after five years.

the post-pandemic student achievement loss has gone away. There’s still a lot of programs that are in place to help students with their academic progress that school districts would like to con- tinue, but because that federal stimulus funding is going away, it may not be available to them. In addition to those two major driving factors, there are some school districts out there experi- encing enrollment decline. Think of it this way: if every student draws down about $10,000 to pay for teachers, and you lose 10 kids, that is $100,000 that the school district doesn’t have to pay for a teacher salary. But you still have to have a teacher in the classroom, and you still have to have a bus driver, and you still have to be able to turn the lights and the air conditioning on. So those are big, kind of fixed costs that a school district doesn’t necessarily control. What kind of staffing issues are schools facing, and what can the state do to help? The state needs to implement a lot of the recom- mendations that came from the Teacher Vacancy Task Force report that was issued last year. There

Per-student spending On average, Texas public school districts spent $13,109 per student for the 2022-23 school year. Texas ranks 44th for per-student expenditures out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Arkansas

$13,516

#42

Alabama

$13,484

#43

Texas

$13,109

#44

Arizona

$12,837

#45

Florida

$12,815

#46

Tennessee

$12,476

#47

Nevada

$12,246

#48

Oklahoma

$11,928

#49

Utah

$11,146

#50

#51 Idaho

$9,808

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

The national average for per-student expenditures is $17,493 annually.

SOURCE: NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Comal ISD faces $23.6M shortfall amid growth From the cover

Two-minute impact

FY 2024-25 general fund expenditures

FY 2024-25 general fund revenue

Teachers and instruction: $178.5M

Local revenue: $221.6M State aid: $77.7M Federal aid: $2M

Comal ISD is budgeting an estimated $221.6 million in local revenue, $77.7 million in state aid and another $2 million in federal dollars for a total of $301.3 million in revenue for fiscal year 2024-25. That doesn’t quite make up for the anticipated expenditures for instruction, maintenance and operations, school leadership, and other general expenses totaling $320.16 million. Debt service funds and child nutrition funds are also expected to have a shortfall this school year. Chapman said districts statewide need additional state funding, noting that a collective statewide request by school administrators for $5.4 billion in the last legislative session went unmet. Amid the funding challenges, the district is grappling with how to effectively educate its growing student body. Although funding is allocated per student, officials say it hasn’t kept pace with increasing needs, leading to strain on resources as the student population expands.

Other expenses: $90.1M

Total $320.16M

Total $301.3M

School leadership: $15.6M Plant maintenance & operations: $36M

FY 2024-25 budget for debt services and child nutrition

Expenditures

Revenues

$112.47M

Debt service fund Child nutrition fund

$111.08M

$18.13M

$14.74M

SOURCE: COMAL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Residential activity in Comal ISD and neighboring districts Annual starts refer to the number of new students beginning in the fall, while annual closings are students that complete a year in the same campus. Comal ISD ended the 2023-24 school year with 38.54% increase over the number of new students that began the school year from those who moved in throughout the year.

The outlook

The district collaborates with developers to plan new campuses. However, delays due to permitting issues have impacted new school construction. With 122 portable classrooms in use, the district faces space challenges, Chapman said. CISD trustee Courtney Biasatti said that the completion of Middle School No. 9 is delaying the timeline for opening new campuses planned there, adding financial pressure on the district. This contributes to overcrowding in existing schools, increasing operational costs, Biasatti said.

Annual starts

Annual closings

+27.92%

+38.54%

+51.2%

+28.05% +40.08%

+46.89%

Northside ISD Comal ISD North East ISD Judson ISD Schertz-Cibolo- Universal City ISD

New Braunfels ISD

SOURCE: COMAL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY SHAHERYAR KHAN

The conditions

What’s next?

What they’re saying

In 2019, House Bill 3 increased per student funding, but that has not kept pace with inflation or student needs, said Dax Gonzalez, Texas Association of School Board’s governmental relations director. He said that districts face stricter safety requirements without sufficient funding, as recent state laws provide minimal per-student increases and one-time grants, insufficient in the long-term. Additionally, Gonzalez said that federal COVID-19 relief funds, which had temporar- ily bolstered budgets, have run out, leaving districts to struggle to maintain programs amid rising costs.

Financial challenges for the district are in part due to loss of temporary federal aid as well as state funding reductions. Those include a $3.7 million reduction in pandemic-era federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, a $1.7 million decrease in school health and related services funding, and $750 million in budgetary impacts from Senate Bill 2’s reductions in the amount of property taxes a district is able to collect. Despite these challenges, CISD is prioritizing 80% of its budget for teacher salaries and class- room instruction, Chapman said. Another 15% is allocated to facilities and maintenance, and 5% to instructional support services. “[We] asked for $5.4 billion for the state of Texas. ... We have to have money to continue to operate, which we did not get,” Chapman said at a July 30 Greater New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation quarterly luncheon. Average U.S. funding per student compared to total Texas student funding Funding per Texas student Average funding per U.S. student

Chapman said the district will likely prioritize cuts that minimize impact on core classroom needs. While specific areas for reduction have not been finalized, administrative costs and elective programs may be the first targets. Chapman said maintaining the district’s quality of education and supporting its growing student population will be a key focus, despite financial constraints. The district may explore alternative funding sources or adjustments in operations to manage the shortfall, he said. Looking ahead, the district will also have to closely monitor legislative developments that could affect future funding and engage with the community and stakeholders to communicate the challenges and decisions being made. The 2021 and 2023 school bonds in Comal ISD are funding new facilities across the district, including elementary, middle and high schools:

“Now you have to hire more teachers and you have to build more buildings. ... Those

are two different pots of money.” DAX GONZALEZ , TASB'S GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR

Bond 2021

Farias Spitzer Elementary Comal Creek Elementary Bulverde Middle School Hill Country College Preparatory High School

2019-20

$13,501

-22.92%

$10,406

“The district has experienced exponential increases in the costs of insurance,

Bond 2023

2020-21

Elementary School No. 23 Middle School No. 9 Elementary School No. 22 Elementary School No. 21 Life Bridges No. 2

$14,358

-27.97%

utilities, instructional supplies ... and labor costs since 2019.”

$10,342

2021-22

JOHN CHAPMAN, SUPERINTENDENT

$15,633

-19.11%

SOURCE: COMAL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

$12,645

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Full-day Pre-K Needs Full-Day Funding

DID YOU KNOW?

The state requires full-day pre-K but only funds half the day.

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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION

Transportation

Development

BY SHAHERYAR KHAN

City moves forward with ‘Ride the Rio!’ microtransit service

62-unit complex to break ground in Freiheit Village

opportunity to come in with condos, which are more boutique communities where people enjoy a little bit more privacy than, say, a larger apartment community.” Floor plans for the condominiums will range from studios to three-bedroom units, with single and tandem garage options. The complex’s amenities include:

The city of New Braunfels is moving forward with a microtransit service named “Ride the Rio!,” scheduled to begin in early 2025. This new initiative is part of the city’s ongoing eorts to enhance public transportation and meet the growing mobility needs of residents, said Garry Ford, director of transportation and capital improvements for the city. How we got here The push for expanded public transit in New Braunfels began with the City Council’s approval in November 2023 endorsing a hybrid transit plan. The plan includes both on-demand microtransit and xed bus routes, aimed at improving trans- portation options within the city. The initiative follows the city’s recent establishment of a now federally-recognized urban transit district. The details The microtransit project will be implemented in

three phases, Ford said: • Phase 1: Establish the microtransit service, starting in early 2025. • Phase 2: Consider adding local xed routes based on the initial service’s performance and community needs. • Phase 3: Add additional services if necessary, based on further evaluation and demand. The service will oer an on-demand transportation option where vehicles can be shared among passengers with exible routing and scheduling. The microtransit service will operate from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, said Julie Sitton, transit services coordinator for the city, proposing a fare of $2 per trip within the city limits. All vehicles will be Americans with Disabilities Act accessible, Sitton said, and passengers can request vehicles by phone, website, or on a soon-to- be-developed app.

Dovetail Condominiums, a 62-unit development in Freiheit Village, is set to break ground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 12. The update The event will be held at the Dovetail Sales Gallery, located at 615 Oxford Drive, Ste. 105, New Braunfels, according to an Aug. 16 news release from the development. Dovetail Condominiums will be the fth development project for GBMC Communities in New Braunfels. The details The company is developing a new condominium project they believe is a unique and aordable product for the local market, said Liam Caruana, sales manager at GBMC Communities. Prices will range from $200k-$550k. “New Braunfels has a need, in our opinion, for more density,” Caruana said. “We saw an

Timeline for microtransit roll out

• City Council approves plan for public transit service roll out November 2023 • New Braunfels recognized as urban transit district by Federal government Spring 2024 • The city will issue request-for-proposals for a “turnkey” microtransit service provider September 2024 • The city plans to award the contract to the selected provider End of 2024 • Service begins. The city will continue the current demand-response transit service with Alamo Regional Transit through March 2025 Early 2025

• An o-leash dog park • An outdoor kitchen • A swimming pool

Dovetail Condominiums is set to break ground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 12.

“This development is not just about building a condo project; it’s about creating a community that reects the future of living,” said Max Caru- ana, developer at GBMC Communities. What’s next The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

1101

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Real estate

Since May 2022, the New Braunfels City Council approved more than 30 special use permit zoning changes to allow for short term rentals in various locations all over town. In that same time, three requests were denied. For those that were denied, often residents needed to voice opposition that reside in the immediate area around the home in question. “There are instances where the zoning already allows a short-term rental and they don’t have to request the SUP,” said Christopher Looney, director of planning and development services for the city. “So there might be one or more that exists and they didn’t appear on the council agenda.” 36 short-term rentals approved since 2022

Short-term rentals

ELLIOT KNOX BLVD.

337

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ERIC WEILBACHER

Stay tuned

Put in perspective

regional advertising appeal. “They’re in Bulverde and they’re in Canyon Lake. People are just advertising them as being in New Braunfels to get the customers,” Looney said.

Websites that allow homeowners to list proper- ties to rent list hundreds in New Braunfels, though many are outside the city. Looney said often New Braunfels is listed for its

Looney said city staff might propose some minor changes to the land development ordinance concerning short-term rentals, but added that the Smart City Policy Group—an Austin-based organization that focuses on city regulations that encourage economic innovation to the public’s benefit—lists New Braunfels’ policy as a model for other cities. Organizations such as the Texas Neighborhood Coalition contend that short-term rentals create a noise nuisance in neighborhoods as well as issues with parking, security and housing values. In the past two years, many Texas cities have considered changes to their short- term rental codes or even banned short- term rentals. In June, San Antonio added revisions including a mandate that online platforms remove listings without a legitimate permit number and adding a required quiet hours notice.

In their own words

A North Houston Avenue home was denied its rezoning request at a City Council meeting June 24. Neighbor Jessica Harley said she opposed using that property as a short-term rental. “I do appreciate what they’ve done with the house. It is beautiful. I am here, however, to oppose the short term rental for many reasons, one of them being the loss of aordable housing in New Braunfels,” Harley said. The owner of the home in question, Jessica Bacchus, said that the property is zoned for a

This home on North Houston Avenue was recently denied a special use permit to operate as a short-term rental.

SHAHERYAR KHAN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

variety of commercial and light industrial uses, but she would prefer to use it as a rental and keep the residential character.

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