News
BY HEATHER MCCULLOUGH, CONNOR PITTMAN & CODY THORN
Lewisville ISD transportation LISD plans to hire 250 bus drivers to staff its newly created transportation department ahead of the 2025-26 school year. Lewisville ISD creates transportation department In late April, Lewisville ISD created its trans- portation department in a shift away from using contracted service, which were employed for the past 30 years. The district’s current contracted provider is Texas Central School Bus Services. The details
Argyle hires Mike Sims for town manager position
Argyle has chosen a new town administrator, Mike Sims, who started
87 bus drivers applied as of May 5
286 buses owned by LISD
New trails, pier in store for Johns Park Flower Mound Town Council unani- mously approved a master plan for Leonard and Helen Johns Community Park, May 19. The overview MHS Planning and Design developed the master plan that outlines future improve- ments at the park located at 1850 Timber Creek Road. Funding for the project comes from the 2025 bond. Potential improvements include: • Five new tennis courts • A nature-themed play area and amphitheater • Additional trails • A boardwalk The construction of improvements is expected to finish by the end of 2027. During a May 5 work session, LISD Director of Transportation Dana Chandler said the transpor- tation department is looking to hire for several positions prior to the 2025-26 school year. Chandler said LISD needs to hire 250 bus drivers and Texas Central School Bus Services is about 30 bus drivers down compared to expected staffing. By bringing transportation services in-house, the expected cost increase in the fiscal year 2024- 25 is about $2 million, per district documents. Chief Financial Officer Scott Wrehe said the bud- get for the transportation department increases payroll, but non-payroll costs will decrease due to the move away from contracted bus services. LISD also owns 286 buses, but he said the district will have to purchase software for routing, parts, tires, equipment and a vehicle for roadside assistance. “Those numbers are very fluid,” he said. “It’s going to depend on hiring, how many staff are hired, and what they’re paid. Obviously, it’s
May 21. The gist
30 bus monitor applications as of May 5
SOURCE: LEWISVILLE ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Mike Sims served the city of Terrell as assistant city manager for 11 years before being promoted to city manager in 2019, according to the city’s website. The town administrator manages the town departments, prepares and oversees the budget and provides assistance to the council, according to Argyle’s website. "Things that I believe were important in the search [for a town administrator] included a willingness to interact with the community," Mayor Ronald Schmidt said. "Someone that was outgoing and enjoyed dealing with the public."
Flower Mound OKs parking for new H-E-B Grocer H-E-B could occupy 22.86 acres within Furst Ranch after approval of an updated parking ratio at the May 5 council meeting. What you need to know The updated parking ratio is based on having one parking space per 150 square feet of space, Flower Mound Director of Development Services Lexin Murphy said. The default parking ratio within Furst Ranch is one parking space per 250 square feet, according to town documents. Based on the town’s typical parking standards, the H-E-B could have had 440 parking spots, but could have been as high as 528 spaces under the town’s allowable 20% deviation, Murphy said. A traffic impact analysis of other area stores’ parking usage, including ones in Alliance, Frisco and Plano, was conducted to help prove the need for the 733 spaces, said Jonathan Kerby, a going to depend on what supplies we need and there may be other funding sources for software, potentially.” What else? Bus service is provided for families that live 2 miles or more from their zoned campus, but bus service will be provided to families that live within a 2-mile radius due to hazardous routes in the path of students walking. LISD had 218 regular bus routes in the 2024-25 school year, with 92 hazard- ous routes.
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Kimley-Horn civil engineering consultant working on the project for H-E-B. Based on a preliminary concept plan for the potential H-E-B, the store would total 110,000 square feet and include a fuel station. What’s next? H-E-B Predevelopment Services Manager Becca Wang said there is no timeline for the store at this point, but H-E-B remains in contact to develop within Furst Ranch. “I just don’t think you can get here soon enough,” council member Ann Martin said.
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