Leander - Liberty Hill Edition | September 2024

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Leander Liberty Hill Edition VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5 SEPT. 17OCT. 14, 2024

2024 Education Edition

A teacher at Naumann Elementary School works with a student during the 202324 school year. That year, students across the state performed worse on the math STAAR than the year prior.

COURTESY LEANDER ISD

Amid statewide low math scores, Leander ISD sees new decline

“Math scores are something that we are con- cerned about and that we’re really focusing a lot of our discussions on,” LISD school board President Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia said.

grade level, or passing, the math State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness declined for every grade from spring 2023 to spring 2024. This decline isn’t isolated to LISD. As a state, the percentage of Texas students approaching grade level in math in 2024 also declined for each grade.

BY HANNAH NORTON & CHLOE YOUNG

Local districts and state advocacy groups are looking for ways to improve student performance in math. This comes as the percentage of third through eighth grade students in Leander ISD approaching

CONTINUED ON 26

Also in this issue

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INSIDE

Impacts: Leander business provides dog boarding and day care—nd out more (Page 6)

Development: Liberty Hill library acquires land for new building—learn where (Page 13)

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Reporters Brittany Anderson Amanda Cutshall Dacia Garcia Kameryn Griesser Sarah Hernandez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Amira Van Leeuwen Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Alissa Foss Gloria Gonzalez Melissa Johnson Sabrina Musachia

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Claire Shoop Editor

Melissa Romero Account Executive

Correction: Volume 2, Issue 4 The special-use permit Cedar Park City Council delayed voting on and ultimately failed to pass related to a child care facility in the Centro Plaza shopping center was not for Parinama Academy. Instead, it was a request from the center's developer to rezone the space for future use.

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Leander

Impacts

hand-rolled, boiled and baked in-house every day. Alexandra Lawson and her husband, Scott, own the shop, while her sister Kennedy Fox is its head chef. • Opened Aug. 28 • 14300 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Ste. 101, Cedar Park • www.wilcobagel.com 4 Chili’s The national restaurant chain opened a new location in Bar W Marketplace on the border of Georgetown and Leander. The business serves American and Tex-Mex fare, including fajitas, steaks, burgers, chicken, pasta, seafood and more. • Opened Aug. 19 • 19398 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Georgetown • www.chilis.com 5 Corazon Latino The studio offers group classes, private lessons, choreographed dances and social events weekly. Dance and fitness classes are available, and options exist for both adults and children. Owner Fanny Gonzalez opened the studio’s first location in Austin in 2009. • Opened Aug. 17 • 12617 Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. A101, Cedar Park • www.corazonz.com 6 Nick’s Breakfast & Coffee The family-owned restaurant serves omelets, breakfast sandwiches, classic breakfast plates, burgers, soups, salads and more. It offers breakfast specials Mon.-Fri. from 7-11 a.m. and daily lunch specials with a complimentary drink. The new business replaced Bright Restaurant and Bar. • Opened June 14 • 901 Crystal Falls Parkway, Ste. 101, Leander • www.nicksbnc.com 7 Bright Spot Pediatric Therapy The neurodiversity-affirming speech and occupational therapy clinic offers a wide variety of services for patients up to age 21, including developing motor skills, such as handwriting, tying shoe laces, jumping or catching a ball. The clinic’s lead therapist Claudia Gregg said the clinic also helps children with emotional regulation, social skills and pronunciation. • Opened Aug. 12

RONALD REAGAN BLVD.

KAUFFMAN LP.

183A TOLL

Leander

LEANDER DR.

SCOTTSDALE DR.

183

VISTA RIDGE BLVD.

Cedar Park

1 14

183

AVERY RANCH BLVD.

LAKELINE MALL DR.

45 TOLL

RIDGELINE BLVD.

183

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Cedar Park & Leander

45 TOLL 2 Camp Bow Wow Owned and operated by Kimberley Elliott and Chris Click, the Leander facility has 42 cabins and two luxury suites for overnight dog boarding in addition to three outdoor and three indoor climate-controlled play yards. Pet parents also have the opportunity to monitor their pups in the play yards and suites via webcams. • Opened Aug. 10 • 607 Leander Drive, Bldg. 10, Leander • www.campbowwow.com/leander LAKELINE MALL DR. 3 The Williamson County Bagel Company At the family-owned shop, customers can build their own bagels from an array of types and cream cheeses, or choose from a menu of sandwiches. The bagels are

Now open

1 Lakeline Farmers Market The farmers market will be held in the former Texas Farmers’ Market location, which moved to Cedar Park’s Bell District in May. Per a representative, the market will feature local produce, meat, dairy, baked goods and other food items; handmade goods; and activities, such as live music, children’s games, plant swaps and cooking demonstrations. • Opened Sept. 7 • 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Cedar Park • www.lakelinefarmersmarket.com

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• 706 Leander Drive, Ste. 503, Leander • www.brightspotpediatrics.com

Now open

Coming soon

8 Strength & Dignity Wellness Owned by Katie Castillo, the business specializes in addressing the physical needs of women during and after pregnancy. Castillo said some of the common conditions treated at the practice include urinary leaking, pelvic organ prolapse, pain and cesarean-delivery recovery. The physical therapy clinic also offers learning opportunities for pregnancy-safe workouts and postpartum recovery. • Opened Sept. 3 • 921 W. New Hope Drive, Ste. 605, Cedar Park • www.strengthdignitywellness.com

Coming soon

10 The Brass Tap The craft beer bar and entertainment venue opened following several months of permitting delays. The business offers an extensive list of draft beers, including those from local breweries, as well as cocktails and wine. Its food menu includes sharable appetizers, burgers, wings, tacos and salads. The Leander location is co-owned by franchisee Ridham Bhatt. • Opened July 13 • 15181 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Leander • www.brasstapbeerbar.com 11 James Avery Artisan Jewelry Based in Kerrville, the family-owned jewelry retailer is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year with a traveling trunk show Aug. 16-Oct. 14. The company sells jewelry pieces for men and women, including charms, pendants, earrings, necklaces, chains, bracelets and rings. Jewelry pieces are available in sterling silver, 14-karat yellow gold and bronze. • 6300 183A Toll, Ste. 150, Cedar Park • www.jamesavery.com 12 Cinemark The movie theater marked its 40th anniversary in August with a week of showing select movies from 1984 for $5 each. The Plano-based company operates more than 500 theaters in 42 U.S. states as well as in 13 South and Central American countries, according to its website.

13 Austin Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints More than 560 community members gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for the first Austin- area temple on Aug. 17. The 30,000-square-foot, one-story temple will serve about 32,000 area members. The temple will be reserved for church members to hold ceremonies, including weddings and baptisms by proxy for the deceased. • Opening in 2026

Arka Montessori Academy The academy will accept children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old for its full-time enrollment and students up to 12 years old for its after-school program. Curriculum at the school will include science, history, math, language, music and movement. The academy will also offer extracurricular activities, such as robotics, dance, STEM classes and soccer. Owner Mani Gudavalli said he has yet to receive the exact building number for the school. However, he said the school will be located on San Gabriel Parkway. • Opening in December 2025 • www.arkamontessori.com/leander

• 1801 E. Park St., Cedar Park • www.churchofjesuschrist.org

• 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park • www.cinemark.com

In the news

9 The Crossover The more than 200,000-square-foot sports, wellness and entertainment complex has a new management partner in Oak View Group, according to an Aug. 21 news release. Under this partnership, Oak View Group will manage, program and sell sponsorships at the Crossover. Oak View Group aims to add more live entertainment options, including concerts and comedy shows, as well as youth sports programming, particularly ice hockey events, to the venue. • 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Cedar Park • www.crossovertx.com

Closings

14 Buca di Beppo The company filed for bankruptcy with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas on Aug. 5. In the bankruptcy documents, the franchise stated they have been seeing a decrease in profits since the beginning of 2021. The national Italian franchise closed 18 locations in 2024, including 12 in July, two of which were in the Austin area. • Closed in July • 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Cedar Park • www.bucadibeppo.com

LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

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Impacts

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

2 Wendy’s The new fast-food restaurant opened on Hwy. 29 near Starbucks. It serves burgers, chicken, salads and more. • Opened July 29 • 13079 W. Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill • www.wendys.com Ecstatic Expression Coffee Co. The coffee and tea catering business offers catering packages as well as coffee education workshops, consulting for coffee business owners and coaching for hospitality industry employees. The business serves greater Travis and Williamson counties. • Opened July 20 • www.ecstaticexpressioncoffee.com

200

214

1869

Liberty Hill

RONALD REAGAN BLVD.

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332

1869

SOUTH FORK SAN GABRIEL RIVER

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MAP NOT TO SCALE

Coming soon

3 The Luxe The new spa includes a variety of independent beauty and wellness providers who offer skincare, facials, microneedling, chemical peels, nails and other services. It is owned by Dani Luckey, owner of Dani Luckey Aesthetics, and Ket Vora, owner of Absolute Nails. • Opening Oct. 17 • 2001 Main St., Liberty Hill • https://the-luxe.b12sites.com

Liberty Hill

fruit teas, smoothies and slushes with a wide range of flavor options and toppings, including brown sugar, lychee, strawberry, grape, kumquat, rose and passion fruit. The shop is operating in the space previously occupied by Koffe Cafe. • Opened Aug. 7 • 9073 W. Hwy. 29, Ste. 111, Liberty Hill • Business website and phone number not available

Now open

1 Sweet Pop Boba Cafe Owned by Abhi Linga Reddy, the business sells milk teas,

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LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Government

BY ANNA MANESS & CLAIRE SHOOP

County approves budget, sets FY 2024-25 tax rate Williamson County Commissioners Court approved a $635.13 million fiscal year 2024-25 bud- get and set the 2024 county tax rate at $0.399999 per $100 valuation during an Aug. 27 Commission- ers Court meeting. The breakdown The adopted county budget can be broken down into three funds: general, road and bridge, and debt service. This budget is about $75.02 million higher than the 2023-24 adopted budget of $560.11 million, according to county documents. The details The budget includes 42 new full-time positions and the conversion of three part-time positions to full-time. The new positions include a county administrator and roles in the tax assessor-collec- tor, elections, technology and facilities offices.

Leander library aims to keep up with growth The Leander Public Library is working to develop a strategic plan to guide its next three years of operations, Library Director Peggy Parrish said. The why Parrish said the plan will help the library maximize its current space and look at how the facility can better meet residents’ needs with what it already has. Additionally, she said the growth the city is experiencing is causing many departments to look at comprehensive changes to keep up. One option may include building new facilities; however, she said there’s not a concrete plan for a new library. The strategic plan will be completed by mid-October. It will go before City Council for approval and then be shared with the public.

County funds

General fund: $361.22M

Total $635.13M

Debt service fund: $200.75M Road and bridge fund: $73.15M

NOTE: NUMBERS MAY NOT EQUAL TOTAL DUE TO ROUNDING.

SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The general fund budget also includes an $18.03 million purchase of a 28-acre property with a 75,000 square-foot building. Under the new budget, all civilian employees will receive a 3% cost-of-living and 3% merit increase, while law enforcement and corrections personnel will receive a 3% cost-of-living increase and a step increase of 2%-2.5%. The impact The approved 2024 county tax rate of $0.399999 per $100 valuation will increase annual property taxes on the average homestead residence by $191.45, according to the release.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Election

BY PARKS KUGLE

County to use prenumbered ballots

A closer look

The advisory from the SOS addresses updated requirements relating to the certification of elec- tronic pollbook systems and the use of software to number ballots under the Texas Election Code. The move was prompted in part by reporting from The Texas Tribune that verified, in limited cases, private choices made in the voting booth could be identified using public records. Locally, concerns over ballot security have been raised and debated for at least a year. Marcia Watson, Williamson County executive director of Citizens Defending Freedom, a conser- vative grassroots organization, spoke about ballot secrecy at seven different Williamson County Commissioners Court meetings from Jan. 23-July 2. Watson said the move to consecutively num- bered, preprinted ballots is a step in the right direction toward improving the security and safety of the county’s election equipment. “The right to ballot secrecy is an integral part of our voting system. ... I want to thank the mem- bers of the public who have been reasonable and kind in providing input regarding our election processes,” Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said in a statement.

The board’s vote brings Williamson County in line with Nelson’s updated guidelines, Collins Gilby said. County officials said the new ballots will come with a serial number preprinted on the back. Voters will still insert the ballot card into the voting machine and, once they’ve finished voting, place it into the DS200 ballot scanner and vote tabulation system, officials said. Though the final price of the ballots will be determined by their length, county officials estimated the new ballots will cost roughly $0.03 each. A ballot will be ordered for each of the nearly 438,000 registered voters.

The Williamson County Elections board voted unanimously to procure consecutively numbered, preprinted paper ballots during its July 29 meeting. The vote allows Williamson County Election Administrator Bridgette Escobedo to purchase the ballots ahead of the November election. It also discontinues the use of computerized random numbering of ballots in Williamson County. Williamson County Democratic Chair Kim Collins Gilby said Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson essentially decertified the old process through an election advisory issued in June.

Registered voters in Williamson County The number of registered voters in Williamson County has grown each general election year. As of early September, there were nearly 438,000 people registered to vote in the November election.

437,988

500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0

2016 2018 2020

2022

2024

General election year

The cost of ballots Williamson County orders new ballots ahead of each election, although this year's will be preprinted. The cost of the ballot is determined by its length—how many races and candidates it includes.

Number of required ballots

437,988

What's next

Cost

$0.03 per ballot

County officials said the ballots would be ordered in early September, after the deadline for local entities to call for an election.

Approximate total

$13,140

SOURCES: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE, WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

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Development

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Liberty Hill Public Library purchases land for larger facility

The library has partnered with a consultant to create a strategic plan that will inform the new space’s design using community feedback. The library gathered over 800 survey responses and held focus groups with community members over the last year. Community members expressed a desire for a programming room, a drive-up book drop, and spaces for teenagers, adults and children, Palmer said. Palmer said she would like the new space to serve as a hub for community members to gather, which she said the area lacks. With a larger space, the library may better serve certain age groups and provide classes on subjects such as computers, crafts, coding and resume building, she said.

The Liberty Hill Public Library is one step closer to building a larger library for its thousands of patrons. In July, the library purchased 6.6 acres of land at 1600 Main St., Liberty Hill, for a new facility. The purchase follows about a decade of planning and saving funds to open a space that will better meet the needs of the area’s growing community, Library Director Angela Palmer said. The Liberty Hill Public Library selected the new site because of its central location and accessibility to community members, Palmer said. The library district—which is funded through a portion of sales tax—used funding accumulated over the last 10 years along with a loan to purchase the land, she said.

LIBERTY HILL CHURCH OF CHRIST

LIBERTY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

FORMER MAIN STREET SOCIAL BUILDING

1869

279

MAIN ST.

Why it matters

Going forward

The Liberty Hill Public Library has been looking to open a larger facility as the area’s population grows and the current building does not have enough space to accommodate its patrons’ needs, Palmer told Community Impact in December. Since 2003, the library has operated out of a 2,400-square-foot building while the population in its service district has increased by more than 300% over the last 20 years, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The library’s new space may be as large as 15,000-20,000 square feet, Palmer said. The site will allow the library to further expand if it chooses to do so, she said.

Number of new library members

The library is now working to raise significant funds for the new facility’s construction, Palmer said. To do so, the library is looking for people to help start a foundation. As a nonprofit, the library foundation would work to build an endowment by acquiring larger, corporate donations. Additionally, it’s reviving the Friends of the Liberty Hill Public Library District organization. The Liberty Hill Public Library District board anticipates the new building may be ready in 2027, Palmer said.

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

2017-18 2019-20 2021-22 2023-24

Fiscal year

NOTE: EACH FISCAL YEAR RUNS FROM OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER. SOURCE: LIBERTY HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Education

BY HANNAH NORTON

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. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news—show them your gratitude by supporting them.

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What's inside

Learn where LHISD is acquiring land for schools (Page 19)

Check out plans for Leander High School’s renovation (Page 21)

Read a Q&A with LISD’s future chief of police (Page 25)

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TEA once again blocked from issuing AF ratings for Texas public schools

The AF accountability system The TEA’s accountability system was established by the 2017 Texas Legislature based on a variety of factors, including:

The annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

For the second year in a row, a Travis County judge blocked the Texas Education Agency from releasing its AF accountability ratings for Texas school districts and campuses Aug. 12. The case echoes a 2023 lawsuit from over 100 school districts, which alleged the TEA’s revamped accountability system was “unlawful” and would unfairly harm school districts. The agency was set to release ratings for the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 15. In a lawsuit led Aug. 12, ve public school dis- tricts said the TEA has not been transparent about changes to its accountability system and failed to x “mistakes” made last year. The TEA said it was reviewing the ling to determine next steps. “It is disappointing that a small group of school boards and superintendents opposed to fair

accountability and transparency have once again led a lawsuit aimed at preventing AF ratings from being issued and keeping families in the dark about how their schools are doing,” a TEA spokes- person said in a statement. More details Texas’ AF system, designed in 2017, gives parents insight about the quality of their children’s school. If a campus or district receives a failing grade for several years in a row, the state can intervene. Districts have not received complete AF ratings since 2019. In 2022, schools that received a C or lower were deemed “not rated” as they recovered from signicant learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. Accountability ratings were not issued at all in 2020 or 2021.

Academic growth

High school graduation rates

Student preparedness for college, a career or the military

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Travis County District Judge Karin Crump sided with the school districts in an Aug. 12 order, temporarily blocking the TEA from issuing new accountability ratings while litigation continues. A full hearing was scheduled for Aug. 26, but it has been delayed until Sept. 16, after press time.

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

FAFSA completion rates in Texas 65% 60% 65%

54.5%

54%

0% 50% 55%

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

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

Zooming in

Local FAFSA completion

Leander ISD

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.

2,122

2023

-7.78%

1,957

2024

Liberty Hill ISD

287

2023 2024

-16.72%

239

SOURCE: NATIONAL COLLEGE ATTAINMENT NETWORK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The law went into effect for high school seniors graduating during the 2021-22 school year.

LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Liberty Hill ISD will ask voters to approve an increase to the district’s tax rate for fiscal year 2024-25 during the Nov. 5 election. At an Aug. 15 special meeting, the LHISD board of trustees approved calling a voter- approval tax rate election, or VATRE. The election comes as the district is facing its largest budget shortfall of $7.5 million amid cuts to state and federal funding, district officials said. The district is asking voters to approve a maintenance and operations, or M&O, tax rate of $0.7269 per $100 valuation, which is almost $0.06 higher than the FY 2023-24 tax rate of $0.6692 per $100 valuation. The district is required to get voter approval for a M&O tax rate greater than $0.6669 per $100 valuation, Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero said. The interest and sinking, or I&S, tax rate will remain at $0.50 per $100 valuation, making for a combined tax rate of $1.2269 per $100 valuation if the VATRE passes, Guerrero said. LHISD calls tax-rate election

The breakdown

tax-rate election passes, the district would receive a $6.8 million increase in revenue and could reduce its budget shortfall to $2.9 million, accord- ing to district documents. A higher tax rate would allow the district to replenish its fund balance and provide a 2% mid- point salary raise for all staff members, Guerrero said. If the VATRE does not pass, the district’s fund balance is projected to be depleted by FY 2026-27.

If the VATRE passes, homeowners with a median home value of $462,264 could expect to pay $4,444 in school property taxes in FY 2024-25, which is an estimated $217 increase from what homeowners would pay if it does not pass, accord- ing to district information. At the Aug. 15 meeting, the board adopted the district’s $104 million general operating budget for FY 2024-25 with a $7.5 million shortfall. If the

Historical tax rates in Liberty Hill ISD Since 2018, the district’s M&O tax rate has decreased due to compression from the state as property values grow.

Tax rate per $100 valuation

Maintenance and operations

Interest and sinking

$1.54

$1.47

$1.3647

$1.36

$1.3446

$1.2269

$1.1692

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25*

*THE FY 2024-25 TAX RATE MUST BE APPROVED BY VOTERS IN A NOV. 5 ELECTION.

Fiscal year

SOURCE: LIBERTY HILL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What else?

“The last thing we want to do is raise taxes, but we’re backed into a corner, and we feel we have no [other] option.” STEVEN SNELL, LIBERTY HILL ISD SUPERINTENDENT

LHISD is projected to pay around $618,000 in recapture for FY 2024-25, Guerrero said. “The district is approaching recapture with or without the VATRE,” Snell said. If voters approve the VATRE but not the attendance credits, the state could seize district property as a form of payment, Guerrero said.

The district will also ask voters to approve the purchase of attendance credits in November. These credits allow districts to begin paying recapture, which will be required under the higher tax rate. Recapture requires property- wealthy districts to pay the local property tax revenue they receive beyond their entitlement back to the state to be redistributed to property-poor districts.

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Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

LHISD acquires more land to prepare for future development

Liberty Hill ISD has accelerated its efforts to purchase additional properties in recent years as the Liberty Hill area is projected to experience substantial growth. The district’s enrollment—which nearly doubled over the past five years—is expected to reach over 18,000 students in 2033 as dozens of new subdivisions, including thousands of single-family homes and multi-family units, are underway. Meanwhile, the district has acquired over 400 acres of new land through its 2021 bond election, some of which will accommodate the opening of several new campuses in the coming school years, Superintendent Steven Snell said in an interview with Community Impact . LHISD currently owns several undeveloped sites across the district that could serve as future elementary, middle or high schools. This summer, the district purchased a nearly 20- acre property next to Liberty Hill High School to serve as a new agricultural barn. It also purchased around 8.5 acres for a future agricultural facility next to the official Legacy Ranch High School campus, which will open in 2026. The district’s ninth elementary school—opening in 2027 or 2028—may be located at a district- owned site in the Butler Farms master-planned community, Snell said. The district seeks to buy land in areas that are projected to experience future growth as the price of land can skyrocket once an area is developed, Snell said.

200

201

206

3405

183

CROSS CREEK RD.

Liberty Hill

1869

Future school/facility sites (owned by LHISD) 1 Future elementary school or middle school site 2 Potential site of Elementary School No. 9 3 New agricultural barn 4 Elementary School No. 8 5 Future elementary school site 6 Future high school and middle school site 7 Legacy Ranch High School 8 Future agricultural facility 9 Future transportation/maintenance facility Liberty Hill ISD properties

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Potential sites (not yet owned by LHISD) 1 Potential elementary school site 2 Potential middle school site 3 Potential elementary school site 4 Potential elementary school site 5 Potential elementary school site Current schools

SOURCE: LIBERTY HILL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

By the numbers

Looking ahead

Each type of school requires the following acre- age and construction time and has the following building capacity, Snell said.

School openings 2027-28

The district is projected to open the following campuses over the next 10 years; however, the timeline for each campus may be subject to change, Snell said. LHISD is expected to have five high schools once the area is built out. The district uses bonds to purchase land for future schools and facilities several years in advance of their projected opening, Snell said. “If you can get land in an area that’s a future growth corridor, then not only do you have a school in the right location, but you bought it at yesterday’s price,” Snell said.

Elementary School No. 9

2028-29 2029-30

Middle School No. 4 2030-31

Space needed

Time to build

Capacity

Elementary School No. 10 2031-32

Elementary schools

800-1,000 students

12 acres

1 year

High School No. 3 2032-33

1,200- 1,500 students 2,500 students

Middle schools

30-40 acres

1.5-2 years

Elementary School No. 11 2033-34

High schools

80-100 acres

2-3 years

LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Educators across dozens of campuses and programs in Leander ISD are headed into the 2024-25 school year with thousands of dollars in additional funding. The Leander Educational Excellence Foundation awarded $140,096 in 36 grants across 31 campuses and departments at the district’s convocation event Aug. 8. LEEF’s collaborative grants award educators up to $5,000 to fund programs or resources that create deeper learning experiences for students across grade levels or campuses, Executive Director Coleen Brighton said. The foundation’s grants play an important role in LISD by filling gaps left by a lack of state funding and improving teacher retention, Brighton said. LEEF awards over $140K in grants

The background

Grant-funded projects

LEEF was able to award grants beyond its $125,000 budget this year due to exceeding its revenue from the previous year; however, more funding is still needed to meet all applicants’ needs, Brighton said. The foundation received 78 grant applications totaling $280,000 heading into the 2024-25 school year. monthly donors, including nearly 180 community members and over 1,800 LISD staff members who contribute from their paychecks. LEEF is looking to increase the number of community The foundation’s collaborative grants are funded in part by its members who provide monthly donations—all of which go toward teacher grants, Brighton said. Visit the foundation’s website at www.leeftx.org to learn more and volunteer or donate.

Grant amount: $5,000 Where: Vista Ridge High School and

Reagan Elementary School What: a cafe that will serve as a vocational program for special education students to develop business skills and connect with peers

Grant amount: $1,293 Where: Running Brushy Middle School

What: supplies for students to crochet while discussing literature with residents of New Hope Manor, a skilled nursing facility in Cedar Park

Grant amount: $5,000 Where: all elementary campuses What: new supplies for theater arts programs

SOURCE: LEANDER EDUCATION EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Leander High School renovations start

The impact

The LHS campus layout has become disjointed due to undergoing several expansions over the years, Trimble said. The redesign is occurring so the campus can accommodate around 2,400 students in the same way a modern LISD high school campus would, he said. “The building was built for educating high school students in 1984, and so a lot has changed, and this is a great opportunity to bring it up to the same specications that we would be building a new campus,” he said. The auxiliary gym may be used for practices by sports teams and will allow extracurricular groups, such as the cheer and dance teams, to expand. Additionally, the new layout will provide com- munity members greater access to the auxiliary gym by moving it to the outer edge of campus, Trimble said.

Voters approved $23.5 million in the district’s 2023 bond election to create the LHS Master Plan Redesign and fund Phase 1 construction. In February, the LISD board of trustees approved allocating an additional $32.3 million in capital projects interest earnings toward Phase 1. Phase 1 is expected to be complete by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, Trimble said. LISD aims to complete the project’s most disruptive work during the summer to minimize the impact on students, he said.

Leander High School is set to undergo a series of major renovations over the next few years. Built in 1984, LHS is Leander ISD’s oldest comprehensive high school and has been expanded nine times over the last 40 years, Chief Operating Ocer Jeremy Trimble said in an interview with Community Impact . The district is now renovating the campus’s athletic facilities as the rst step in a multiphase project to ensure LHS meets the standards of the district’s newer high school campuses, he said.

Renovating athletic facilities Phase 1 moves Leander High School’s auxiliary gym from the back to the front of the campus next to the competition gym and performing arts center.

Main athletics areas Competition gym Auxiliary gym Dance

Looking ahead

COMPETITION GYM

Current layout

Redesigned layout

Leander High School

The district is in the early stages of developing a design for future phases of the master plan, Trimble said. A committee recommended future phases include relocating career, technology and education classrooms from portables to inside the building and reorienting the school’s front entrance, according to the district. LISD would need to pass another bond to fund future phases, Trimble said.

Phase 1A

Phase 1B

Phase 1C

Phase 1D

Timeline: construction began

Timeline: construction began in August Description: constructing an auxiliary gym and new weight room

Timeline: construction set to begin next summer Description: remodeling existing athletics facilities including locker rooms, showers and coaches o ces

Timeline: construction set to begin next summer Description: remodeling the current dance space and auxiliary gym into a wrestling room, and dance and cheer gym

this summer Description:

relocating utilities for a future auxiliary gym and weight room

SOURCE: LEANDER ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

LISD prioritizes recruitment, retention Leander ISD experienced an increase in teacher vacancies and turnover following the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and amid a state- and nationwide teacher shortage. rates from a few school years ago, according to LISD data.

Zooming out

A closer look

What’s next

This school year, the district will begin paying for teachers to receive their national board certification, which allows teachers to receive $2,700- $3,900 a year through the Teacher Incentive Allotment, Eggeling said. The district will also explore whether to join the TIA through listening sessions with teachers and administrators, she said. Joining the TIA would allow some LISD teachers who display high performance to receive thousands in additional funding. LISD has received a grant to pilot UTeach this school year—an alternative certification program through The University of Texas at Austin that aims to fill secondary math and science teaching positions, Gibbs said. “We’re always looking at how we can get the best teachers in front of our students in Leander,” Gibbs said.

The district saw recent improvements in reten- tion that remained relatively unchanged for the 2023-24 school year, according to LISD data. LISD has seen more former teachers returning and improvements through its Spirit Cultural Exchange program that recruits teachers from other countries and its Grow Your Own program, which pays for district employees to receive teach- ing certification and is focused on critical shortage areas, such as math, science, special education and bilingual positions, Eggeling and Gibbs said.

At nearly 34%, the district’s largest cohort of teachers for the 2023-24 school year had 0-5 years of experience, according to LISD data. The district has sought to support new or less experienced teachers through assigning them mentors and instructional coaches as well as allowing them to view model classrooms and learn from more experienced teachers’ instructional practices, Eggeling said. Additionally, the district has hired uncertified teachers who may teach in the district as they work to complete an alternative certification program over the course of a year. These programs help individuals who are knowledgeable in a cer- tain subject area learn teaching skills, Gibbs said. “We have seen an increase in the need for cer- tification waivers,” Eggeling said. “Although I will say this year we have fewer certification waivers than we did last year, so we feel like we’re going in the right direction.”

The district has employed the following methods to recruit new teachers:

A high cost of living in the area alongside increased inflation has been the driving force of the issue, Chief Human Resources Officer Karie Lynn Eggeling said. There has also been a decrease in the number of college students pursuing degrees in education, she said. Teachers stress levels have also increased, said Lisa Gibbs, executive director of talent acquisition and employee support.

Recruiting teachers from across the country through two recruiters

The district’s retention rate for teachers rose from 78.8% to 83.9% from the 2021-22 to the 2022-23 school year and remained somewhat flat last school year at 83.8%. However, challenges remain, with the district seeing a steady year-over-year teacher turnover rate of about 16% in 2023-24, which is higher than

Attending and hosting job fairs

Providing a $1,250 stipend to student teachers and an additional $1,250 stipend if they are hired by the district Providing a $200 stipend to new teachers to help them set up their classrooms Presenting to college classes ahead of graduation Staying in touch with former high school students in the district’s Ready, Set, Teach program Posting on the district’s website, social media and Handshake hiring platform

Teacher turnover in Leander ISD

25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0

Retention in Leander ISD

21.22%

Teachers

All positions

Other staff

16.22%

16.1%

14.69%

100%

9.29%

80% 60% 0

SOURCE: LEANDER ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

2022-23

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2023-24

2019-20

2021-22

2023-24

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316

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