Education
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & BROOKE SJOBERG
Gus Almquist Middle School opens in HISD Hutto ISD opened Gus Almquist Middle School to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students Aug. 13, the first day of the 2024-25 school year. About the project Construction of the $67.73 million middle school took just about two years and relieves capacity concerns at HISD’s other middle schools, Hutto and Farley, according to the district. The new campus includes facilities for expanded science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM; and fine arts programs as well as a new entrepreneurship course. Over 970 students were enrolled to attend as of Aug. 12, according to district staff, but the total capacity sits around 1,200 students. What they’re saying Leading the campus as its first principal, Ryan
ACC semiconductor programs get boost Austin Community College officials announced Aug. 8 that a $7.5 million grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Defense will go toward the community col- lege district’s efforts to develop and expand its semiconductor training programs. The overview ACC received the grant from the DOD’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for the college’s work in semiconductor manufacturing, according to a news release. ACC was the only community college out of the 18 academic institutions selected. The $7.5 million grant was awarded to The University of Texas and the Texas Institute for Electronics, which distributed the funds to ACC, allowing it to “expand existing training programs and develop new ones.” Some of the district’s $297.5 million in expenditures contributing to the $7.9 million shortfall include: for instruction $177M for facilities maintenance and operations $25.5M for school leadership $16.4M for guidance and counseling services $13.3M for student transportation $11M
Gus Almquist Middle School
GREEN PASTURE
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• Cost: $67.73M
• Capacity: 1,200 students • 2024-25 enrollment: 978 students
• Size: 160,000 sq. ft.
Burns said he plans to foster community and campus culture, and that district staff have been working hard to prepare the campus for students to occupy it. “What we’re going to have is opportunities for every kid to find like-minded students who they can get connected with on campus so school’s not a place where they have to go just because they have to—it’s a place that they want to be,” he said.
PfISD adopts budget, lowest tax rate in 30 years Pflugerville ISD is heading into the 2024-25 fiscal year with a $297 million budget, which includes a $7.9 million shortfall in its general fund, and a new
$0.3200 for its debt service rate. The rate is the lowest tax rate for the district in over 30 years and is a 23-cent reduction over last year’s tax rate, per agenda documents. In April, the board approved a 2% salary increase for staff and a new minimum wage of $17 an hour. Officials said employee salaries make up 86% of the annual budget, and the raises equate to an increase of about $5.6 million to the budget.
tax rate of $1.1069. Breaking it down
The board adopted the budget Aug. 15. It also set the 2024-25 tax rate at $1.1069, consisting of $0.7869 for maintenance and operations and
SOURCE: PFLUGERVILLE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
No doctor referral needed for select insurance!
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HUTTO 307 Farley St. 78634
PFLUGERVILLE 15803 Windermere Dr. Ste. 204, 78660
HUTTO 307 Farley St. 78634
Scan here to schedule your appointment today!
Scan here to schedule your appointment today! Scan here to schedule your appointment today! No doctor referral needed for select insurance!
HUTTO 307 Farley St. 78634
PFLUGERVILLE 15803 Windermere Dr. Ste. 204, 78660
PFLUGERVILLE 15803 Windermere Dr. Ste. 204, 78660
HUTTO 307 Farley St. 78634
PFLUGERVILLE 15803 Windermere Dr. Ste. 204, 78660
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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION
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