Boerne - Fair Oaks Ranch | May 2025

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Boerne Fair Oaks Ranch Edition VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 MAY 14JULY 1, 2025

Inaugural issue

Working with water Boerne Utilities ensures long-term water capacity through planning for future growth INSIDE

Amount used 2024 city of Boerne water usage Amount available

59%

41%

Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Boerne City Lake

55%

45%

29%

71%

City wells

43%

57%

Reclaimed water

SOURCE: CITY OF BOERNECOMMUNITY IMPACT

Also in this issue

Impacts Page 4 Read about a new spot to enjoy coee and live music Page 14 Learn about Buc-ee’s plans to open a Boerne location Development

Boerne water demands are expected to increase as more residential development is brought to the city. To prepare for growth, the water treatment plant at Boerne City Lake is planned to undergo a $20 million expansion. BENJAMIN ROBERTSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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BOERNE FAIR OAKS RANCH EDITION

Impacts

ADLER ST.

• Opened March 27 • 1375 S. Main St., Ste. 217, Boerne • www.stretchlab.com

ADLER RD.

Coming soon

BLANCO RD.

6 Pan and Coffee Co-owner Eric Lawitz confirmed the new location will feature a drive-thru. The menu will feature coffee, bakery items and breakfast and lunch dishes. • Opening end of 2025

AMMANN RD.

JOHNS RD.

KRONKOSKY ST.

DIETZ EIKHORN RD.

• 27503 I-10 W., San Antonio • www.panandcoffeeusa.com

OAK PARK DR.

Fair Oaks

BANDERA RD.

7 Boerne Emergency Room The facility will be staffed by board-certified emergency physicians, offering 24-hour care to the community, including pediatric care. • Opening late 2025 • 103 Gallant Fox Lane, Boerne • www.boerneemergencyroom.com 8 Kiddie Academy A new early childhood education and child care business plans to open a location in Boerne. Kiddie Academy is a tuition-based program for children between 6 weeks and 12 years old. • Opening in 2026 • 12 Herff Road, Boerne • www.kiddieacademy.com 9 Chicken Salad Chick The restaurant chain serves meals with chicken salad as a base, including salads and sandwiches. • Opening TBA • I-10 W., Boerne • www.chickensaladchick.com 10 Starbucks A new development is being proposed off Herff Road near Gallant Fox, with plans to bring a second Starbucks location in Boerne. • Opening TBA • Herff Road and Gallant Fox, Boerne • www.starbucks.com

GALLANT FOX LANE

MAP NOT TO SCALE

3 Pearl Periodontics The business offers oral surgery, gum disease treatments, crown lengthening and other emergency dental care. • Opened March 6 • 116 Herff Road, Ste. 106, Boerne • www.pearlperiodontics.com 4 The Heights Plastic Surgery and Med Spa The Heights Plastic Surgery Med Spa opened the business’s second location, offering a full-scope med spa and care for the face, body and skin. • Opened March 20

Now open

1 Rhythm & Brews Located off I-10 as an extension of Wolf Music Company, Rhythm & Brews gives music lovers and the surrounding community an outdoor location to enjoy crafted coffee, smoothies, sodas and other beverages. • Opened in early March • 28604 I-10, Boerne • Facebook: Rhythm & Brews Coffee 2 Shoegroove The woman-owned business offers a selection of footwear, clothing and accessories from brands like Birkenstock, Mephisto, Naot, Dansko and Vionic. • Opened April 2 • 470 S. Main St., Ste. 101, Boerne • www.shoegroovetexas.com

• 221 Water St., Ste. 200B, Boerne • www.theheightsplasticmedspa.com

5 StretchLab Stretches focus on all major muscle groups and extremities, focusing on alleviating muscle tightness and improving flexibility.

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11 O’Reilly Auto Parts The new store will focus on in-person sales of auto parts, tools and supplies. • Opening TBA • 1032 N. Main St., Ste. 1630, Boerne • www.oreillyauto.com 12 Luxxe Salon Suites The business will lease space to professionals offering a variety of beauty services such as haircuts, nails, waxing, lash extensions and more. • Opening in summer • 27650 I-10 W., Stes. 212-215, Boerne • www.luxxesalonsuites.com 13 St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School A new Catholic school is being constructed off Boerne Main Street behind St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. Principal Melanie Brintnall said the new school will focus on a classical education centered around

Relocations

Now Open

14 Fetch and Friskers The store consolidated with the Leon Springs location. Fetch & Friskers offers a selection of cat and dog foods, treats, baked goods, toys and other items for pets. • Relocating April 26

• 26545 I-10 W., Boerne • fetchandfriskers.com

Expansions

15 Vic Vaughan Toyota of Boerne The 28,639-square-foot facility will bring the total service department to 39,054 square feet, making it one of the largest in the region. • Opening 2026-27 • 31205 I-10 frontage road, Boerne • www.toyotaofboerne.com

16 The Native Blends A new nutritional beverage and fruit bowl store has made its home in Boerne. Beverages at the business include teas, coffee and shakes that can be customized to include different flavors and levels of caffeine. Alongside beverages, the business offers acai and dragonfruit bowls. • Opened Feb. 13 • 104 E. Hosack St., Boerne • Facebook: The Native Blends BTX

faith-based learning. • Opening in August • 202 W. Kronkosky St., Boerne • www.stpetersboerne.com

BOERNE - FAIR OAKS RANCH EDITION

Government

Boerne 10-year rolling plan approved, highlighting long-term city projects

10-year plan overview

previous versions is the inclusion of the Arts and Culture Master Plan, which lists around 20 projects for the city, according to agenda documents. “This plan gives the city a strategic path forward for specific quality of life initiatives related to Boerne’s arts and culture,” Director of Operations Nick Montagno said. Moving forward The city is also working on creating a downtown plan, which will be added to the rolling 10-year plan.

Fair Oaks Ranch begins 5-year financial planning Fair Oaks Ranch City Council and staff are in the process of planning for the city budget and finances, weighing options that could shape services and tax rates over the next five years. Director of Finance Summer Fleming on May 1 presented financing scenarios to City Council to receive direction on preparing the plan. “This plan is not a forecast, it is intended to provide outcomes given certain sets of assumptions, and it is an integral part of the budgeting process,” Fleming said. City Council recommended further exploring scenarios to see changes to project funding and tax rates. Breaking it down Projections for governmental services On March 11, Boerne City Council adopted its 10-year rolling plan, which outlines priority projects. Diving deeper While the plan does not bind the city to specific projects, it serves as a guide for city leaders, developers, staff and the community, and highlights goals for city projects that can be accomplished over the next 10 years, according to the plan. One of the main changes between this rolling plan and

More information can be found at www.ci.boerne.tx.us/1079/Planning-in-Boerne.

60 ongoing projects

40 completed projects

69 projects planned for funding

SOURCE: CITY OF BOERNE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Gateway Feature project approved A new gateway feature is coming to Fair Oaks Ranch following approval from City Council on April 17. The details Once completed, the landmark will create a distinctive gateway at the intersection of Fair Oaks Parkway and Leslie Pfeiffer Drive, according to the city website. Planning of the gateway feature has been underway since 2019 and will cost a total of $224,840. Funding for the project is provided through the Municipal Development District, which raises money through city sales tax. City Manager Scott Huizenga said this is estimated to be completed in 2026.

Baseline financial plan

Projected Revenue

Projected Expenditures

$15M

$12.9M

$10.9M

$10M

$10.5M

$9.7M

2025 2026 2027 2028

2029 2030

SOURCE: CITY OF FAIR OAKS RANCH/COMMUNITY IMPACT

expenditures in 2030 show public safety having the most expenses, representing 47% while public works is expected to make up 27%. Fleming explained that the baseline model covered finances that the city knows will happen. City Manager Scott Huizenga said the goal is to have the plan approved by June 5, which is when the city would need to submit a notice of intent to issue debt and prepare for the next budget cycle.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY JARRETT WHITENER

Boerne council to update Safety Action Plan Boerne City Council on April 8 approved a resolution for an update to the Safety Action Plan. Through the updated plan, the city will be able to plan for future safety projects and potentially receive grant funding for those projects. The resolution authorizes the city manager to partner with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. on the project. The plan will cost $300,000, but city staff said 80% of the cost is expected to be reimbursed through federal grants. The overview The goals of the project will be: • Update the city’s existing Safety Action Plan to comply with all federal requirements • Conduct a downtown pedestrian safety action plan to address pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries near the city center

Fair Oaks Ranch updates EMS contract The city of Fair Oaks Ranch entered a contract with Bexar County Emergency Ser- vices District No. 4 for emergency medical transport services. This contract follows the upcoming expiration of a contract with Acadian Ambulance Service, which expired at the end of April. The agreement with Bexar County ESD 4 went into effect April 1. A closer look According to the agenda, the proposed $6,125 monthly payment to ESD 4 is a bud- geted expense for fiscal year 2024-25. This payment is identical to the prorated portion of the expiring agreement with Acadian. ESD Fire Chief Craig Ramon explained that the ESD has added 12 positions to staff the ambulance positions, which provides two people per ambulance.

Cost breakdown

Total: $300K

Project management: $25,000 Action plan: $35,000 Public engagement: $40,000 Safety and equity analysis: $50,000 Infrastructure project development: $50,000 Intersection-road safety audits: $50,000 City center pedestrian study: $50,000

SOURCE: CITY OF BOERNE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

• Conduct intersection-focused road safety audits at intersections identified as crash hotspots Upon the signing of the agreement, the firm will work on the plan analysis and gathering data to update the plan.

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BOERNE - FAIR OAKS RANCH EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Election

BY JARRETT WHITENER

Election results breakdown In Kendall County, 6.49% of registered voters cast ballots in the May 3 election. All results are unofficial until canvassed. Fair Oaks Ranch

69.12% For 30.88% Against Boerne Proposition B 83.92% For 16.08% Against Boerne Proposition C 89% For 11% Against Boerne Proposition D

56.28% Ruben J. Olvera 43.72% Scott Rose Fair Oaks Ranch City Council, Place 3 56.97% Dale Pearson 43.03% Jim Roff Fair Oaks Ranch City Council, Place 4 57.27% Scott Parker 42.73% Kevin Cox Fair Oaks Ranch City Council, Place 5

Incumbent

Winner

SOURCE: KENDALL COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Boerne

Mayor

75.65% Frank Ritchie 24.35% Laura Haning

79.88% Garrett Wilson 20.12% Scott Newberry Boerne ISD Board of Trustees, Place 4 76.77% Sarah Faulkenberry 23.23% Maritza Gonzalez-Cooper Boerne ISD Board of Trustees, Place 5

53.75% Joe Bateman 46.25% Sharon Wright Boerne City Council, District 2

76.61% For 23.39% Against Boerne Proposition A

For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

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BOERNE - FAIR OAKS RANCH EDITION

Environment

BY JARRETT WHITENER

Fair Oaks Ranch is in the process of constructing an elevated water storage tank, which would be the rst water tower in the city. On April 3, City Council agreed to purchase land from the city of Boerne for $543,628 to house the water tower on Ammann Road. City Manager Scott Huizenga said the plans for an elevated water storage have been in the works since around 2008, and he is hopeful the project will begin within the next year. “An elevated storage tank stores a lot of water and, via gravity, it creates pressure in the system to distribute the water faster,” Huizenga said. The city currently uses hydropneumatic pumps, which are mechanical air pressure systems. Huizenga said this system is relatively inecient for meeting pressure needs. Mayor Greg Maxton said another issue with hydropneumatic pumps is that the system relies on electricity. Fair Oaks Ranch moves forward with water tower

Water is pulled from the source and treated Step 1

3351

AMMANN RD.

Pumping station will ll the tower with water Step 2

Water is stored in the tower Step 3

Water is released from the tower, using gravity to distribute to the community Step 4

Step by step Fair Oaks Ranch is in the process of

constructing an elevated water storage tank, which would be the rst water tower in the city.

SOURCES: CITY OF FAIR OAKS RANCH, PHOENIX FABRICATORS AND ERECTORS, LLCCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Why it matters

The timeline

When the city loses electricity, it prevents water from being distributed throughout the community, and with the elevated storage, that will be less of a concern. “Gravity continues to work during cold weather,” Maxton said. “We would keep water ow going to our residents during those times of emergency.” The National Fire Protection Association stan- dards call for 1,000 gallons per minute of pressure to ght a house re, Huizenga said. Huizenga said some parts of the city are around half of that required pressure, making the elevated storage a need for the city. “The primary need from our standpoint is ensuring that we have enough water pressure for re ghting,” he said. The storage tank will also meet the standards set by the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, which requires pressure to prevent sedi- ment buildup and other materials that could cause potential health issues. The storage tank is expected to hold 500,000 gallons of water, and come at a construction cost of

Breaking it down

The city entered into several Water Supply Agreements with property owners located within the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.

2008

$8.8M project cost

$543,628 approved for land purchase

500,000

gallon capacity

Update to the Water Impact Fee was approved, providing plans to fund the water storage tank.

2014

SOURCE: CITY OF FAIR OAKS RANCHCOMMUNITY IMPACT

City sta received Statements of Qualications from in consultants to prepare construction documents to build an elevated storage tank.

around $8.8 million. Funding for the project will come from utility impact fees alongside certicates of obligation bond debt approved by City Council. Huizenga said the project benets both Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch since they both pull water from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. “The two cities could co-locate to their transfer sites between the utilities and provide that access point to our respective cities,” he said. “That is the reason that we chose this site and chose to go into this initiative together.”

2019

City Council approves land purchase agreement. Elevated water storage design is expected to be complete late 2025.

2025

2026

Construction anticipated to begin.

SOURCE: CITY OF FAIR OAKS RANCHCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY JARRETT WHITENER

3 Rolling Acres Trail Project: Another Fair Oaks Ranch bond project, construction on Rolling Acres Trail will increase the lifespan of the road. Update: Roadwork is planned from Ammann Road to Flagstone Hill Drive. • Timeline: Fiscal year 2025-26 • Cost: $3.15 million • Funding source: 2024 bonds 4 Cascade Caverns Project: A project planned for several years, the Cascade Caverns project was postponed in 2024 following an increase in projected costs for the project. The project will include street widening, drainage improvements and a sidewalk on both sides. Update: According to the Boerne city website, the project was estimated at $9.4 million in 2021, but increased to around $43 million in 2024. • Timeline: TBD • Cost: $43 million • Funding source: Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, city of Boerne

Boerne

ADLER RD.

JOHNS RD.

AMMANN RD.

3351

ROLLING ACRES TRAIL

CASCADE CAVERNS

Fair Oaks

DIETZ EIKHORN RD.

Ongoing projects

5 FM 3351 Project: The entire project will expand the roadway from a two-lane, undivided roadway to a four- to six- lane roadway. Update: The first project is currently under construction on the FM 3351 bridge at Cibolo Creek. This phase of the project will mitigate road flooding on the section of FM 3351 over Cibolo Creek. • Timeline: 2024-2028 • Cost: $166.22 million • Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

2 Adler Road Project: The reconstruction of Adler Road includes widening the street to three lanes with a continuous center turn lane from Esser Road to Main Street, a ten- foot shared use path on the north side of the road with a five-foot sidewalk on the south side, a roundabout intersection at Adler Road and Plant Avenue, and drainage improvements and new culverts at No Name Creek and Currey Creek. Update: The culverts will be the first phase of construction, which is expected to begin this summer and wrap up by the end of the year. Road construction is planned for 2026 and completion is estimated for 2028. • Timeline: 2026-2028 • Cost: $15 million • Funding source: 2022 bonds

Upcoming projects

1 Ammann Road Project: Ammann Road will be expanded to two 11-foot- wide lanes and two paved shoulders, reconstructing the section of the road in Fair Oaks Ranch from FM 3351 to the Kendall County limits. Update: The project is one of four bond projects approved by voters in 2024, and construction is expected to be completed in late 2026, making it the third bond project to be completed. • Timeline: late 2026 • Cost: $6 million • Funding source: 2024 bonds

BOERNE - FAIR OAKS RANCH EDITION

Working with water From the cover

What’s happening?

Demand Shortage Water supply, demand projections in Boerne Existing supply

As drought conditions in Kendall County and across the state stretch into the summer months, local municipalities and regional water providers have focused on water conservation. Alongside eorts to promote the use of reclaimed water, the city is undergoing a $20 million project for the expansion of the water treatment facility on the city lake. These eorts help the city serve the growing number of utility customers. Boerne residents raised concerns about the water supply in a December community survey, calling for conservation improvements, including the utilization of reclaimed water for landscaping and non-drinking uses. Current water supplies allow the city utility to have a water service population between 35,000 and 40,000. Utilities Director Michael Mann told the Boerne City Council on March 11 that the city is expected to have water capacity for the next 20-40 years, based on the city’s projections. “Somewhere between 2060 and 2070—we feel comfortable that we have enough water until then,” he said. Mann said that while the city is facing a prolonged drought, he is condent city sta is being proactive about what forecasted development it can provide water to based on current supply and projected growth.

25K

14.5K

10.6K

20K

7.1K

15K

1.5K

10K

2030

2040

2050

2060

2070

2080

Boerne population projections

97,031

100K

78,225

75K

61,796

47,445

50K

35,084

25,482

25K

+280.78%

2080

2030

2040

2050

2060

2070

SOURCE: TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD 2026 DRAFT PLANCOMMUNITY IMPACT

In 2022, Kendall County utilized about 9,700 acre-feet of water. By 2070, the county is projected to use nearly 24,000 acre-feet. Projected municipal water needs by county in 2070

The situation

As of May 6, Canyon Lake is at a capacity of 46%, according to the Texas Water Development Board. This limits the amount of water municipalities can pull from the lake, raising resident concerns. According to the 2023 water quality report, water pulled from Canyon Lake makes up around 59% of the city’s drinking water. Mann said that based on current projections, the city should be fine longer than other areas due to Boerne having its own lake. On April 22, Kendall County Commissioners discussed approving a future resolution to ensure the capabilities of regional providers. Precinct 4 Commissioner Chad Carpenter stressed the importance of long-term planning. “What if we get 10 inches of rain and every lake fills up? Does that fix our problem? No, because we are still having millions of people moving to Texas,” Carpenter said.

Acre-feet of water per year:

<1,000

1,000-25,000

25,000-100,000 >100,000

Travis County

Hays County

Kendall County

Comal County

Guadalupe County

Bexar County

Medina County

Wilson County

Frio County

Atascosa County

SOURCE: TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY JARRETT WHITENER

What’s being done

Should the city need to increase water capacity to serve residents, options available include the purchase of regional water and the expansion of reclaimed water or treated wastewater systems. Mann said pulling water from a regional source would be costly, considering regional utilities are also facing drought conditions, which can lead to a higher demand. The largest upcoming water-related project is the $20 million expansion of the treatment facility at Boerne Lake, which the city has allocated $2.75 million toward so far.

“If we make the investment to expand the reclaimed water system now to the areas that aren’t served by it, we can ensure future growth in that system,” council member Quinten Scott said. Council member Joseph Macaluso said the city’s responsibility is to ensure that residents within the city’s utility have access to water. “We cannot be a regional utility provider for 78006 and the regional ZIP codes. We just don’t have the resources for that,” Macaluso said.

Budgeted funds for water Water Reclaimed water

$379K

$1.590M

$6.704M Total

$10.14M Total

$6.325M

$8.550M

FY 2024-25

FY 2025-26

SOURCE: CITY OF BOERNE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Diving deeper

The outlook

Mann said the city is limited by the state on how much water it can pull from the lake due to conservation efforts. When drought conditions occur, city offi- cials ask residents to conserve water usage to ensure future availability. A contributing factor to conservation efforts is the utilization of reclaimed water. While surface water made up around 72% of the water distributed in 2024, groundwater made up 15% and reclaimed water made up 13%. The use of reclaimed water instead of potable water led to the conservation of around 156 million gallons in 2024. “Without reclaimed water, we would already be short right now,” Mann said.

During the March 11 City Council meeting, Boerne staff presented four scenarios for city growth and water demand, projecting when the city could run out of its existing water supply.

Existing supplies

Existing supplies with support from Canyon Lake

Scenario 1: High population growth-high water use

Scenario 2: High population growth-low water use

Scenario 3: Low population growth-high water use

Scenario 4: Low population growth-low water use

2050 Year

2030

2070

2040

2060

SOURCE: CITY OF BOERNE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

BOERNE - FAIR OAKS RANCH EDITION

Development

BY JARRETT WHITENER

Years in the making: Boerne Buc-ee’s continues development

Boerne navigates planned growth amid resident concerns The city of Boerne is a developing community, bringing in new residential and retail partners as the city continues to grow. The overview While there has been a call from some residents to halt building in the city, Planning Director Nathan Crane said it is not possible since the city does not face challenges that would trigger the need for a moratorium. Despite not having the ability to prevent growth, the city does have access to different tools that allow for the control of specific growth. Crane said tools like the Comprehensive Master Plan, Unified Development Code and other agree- ments with developers help the city become part of the planning process and regulate development.

Ranch transforms into luxury community A new residential development is being constructed on a historic ranch. The gist George’s Ranch is a multi-phase project spanning over 1,140 acres on the former land of George Wilkins Kendall. Upon completion, the development will feature 775 homesites at 1 acre or larger with lots ranging from $900,000 to over $2 million. The first home will be completed this summer, and the project will take a total of 15-20 years to complete.

Neighborhood residential: 40.1% Rural Estate: 33.3% Transitional: 7.4% Auto-oriented commercial: 7.3% Parks and open space: 4.8% Public and institutional: 2.2% Neighborhood commercial: 2.1% Business/Office Park: 2% Downtown: 1% Land use from 2018-28

As work on a Buc-ee’s location coming to the Boerne area continues to crawl forward, the project draws closer to being a reality. While there has been movement at the site, located at the end of U.S. 87 off I-10, the develop- ment only has a grading permit and will require further building permits and design approval before the store can go vertical, Boerne Communi- cations Director Chris Shadrock said. The 53,000 square foot store will bring over 150 jobs to Boerne, alongside gas pumps, food and

revenue for the city. Boerne focuses on businesses that create jobs and create a pathway for young people who leave to come back and raise a family in the community, Story said. “We really see ourselves as a community that attracts smaller projects,” she said. The debate Some residents are voicing concerns regarding the new store, starting a Change.org petition about the development. As of April 17, the online petition had 1,212 verified signatures, with some of the primary concerns listed in the petition being water use and the impact the business would have on the nearby neighborhoods. Shadrock said the permitting process for gas pumps is through the Texas Department of Licens- ing and Regulation.

merchandise. The approach

SOURCE: CITY OF BOERNE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

In 2016, the city and county entered an eco- nomic development agreement to give Buc-ee’s a 20-year rebate of half their respective shares of sales taxes generated by the store. “[Buc-ee’s] will be an extremely high sales tax generator, which allows the city to continue to add to quality of life,” Story said.

Throughout the city, there are 29 multifamily developments, either completed or under con- struction. Between these developments 2,352 units are constructed and 830 units are entitled or under construction, Crane said.

Amy Story, president and CEO of Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corporation, said I-10 is one of the primary development areas for the city of Boerne. Story said one of the goals of the EDC is to attract businesses that can help diversify tax

BRANDT RD.

BOERNE 1313 S Main St (830) 249-0115

DOMINION 24603 I-10 (210) 310-3200

VINEYARD 1309 N Loop 1604 W (210) 408-8206

Education

BY JARRETT WHITENER

Boerne ISD receives fourth A rating from Texas Education Agency A-F accountability ratings

Program provides life skills for students Special education is a growing depart- ment at Boerne ISD, director of special education Annie Seiter said. During the March 24 board of trustees meeting, Seiter gave an update on the special education department as of the 2024-25 school year. Current situation Trustee Rich Sena pointed out that the special education program has had a nearly 50% growth in students since 2021- 22, while the total number of students in the district has increased around 10% during the same time frame. Seiter said one contributing factor to the increased special education growth is the approval of HB 3928 in 2023, which opened the program to a larger number of students. A closer look To ensure special education students receive the best education and life skill training possible, the district offers a vari- ety of programs based on student needs. One program, the Transitional Skills Life Program, focuses on students ages 18-21 who are transitioning from graduation to the workforce. Seiter said this program helps stu- dents learn independent living skills alongside skills that can be used in a job environment.

Boerne ISD received an A for the 2022-23 school year, with 91 out of a possible 100 points, in the Texas Education Agency’s 2022-23 school account- ability ratings. The ratings rank public schools across the state based on academic performance, student growth, college and career readiness and other variables. Ratings for the 2022-23 school year were delayed by lawsuits and released April 24 following an April 3 ruling in which the Texas 15th Court of Appeals overturned a 2023 injunction that prevented the accountability ratings’ release. Why now? The A-F system was established in 2017 with the goal of releasing ratings each year as an effort to provide transparency for the public, per TEA. Since 2017, ratings were not released for the 2019- 20 and 2020-21 school years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release. Criteria for ratings were updated for the 2022-23 school year, leading to districts across the state joining a lawsuit to prevent the release of ratings due to not having enough time to prepare for the new criteria. Breaking it down Overall, BISD received an A rating for the year, marking four high ratings in a row for the school district. The three primary categories rated include student achievement, school progress and closing the gap. For BISD, the school progress category was the only section rated a B, which highlights challenges in academic growth.

Accountability ratings

According to data from the Texas Education Agency, only 11% of districts across the state of Texas received an A rating, alongside Boerne ISD.

District

Rating

A B

Boerne ISD

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD

North East ISD

D B B

Judson ISD

Comal ISD

New Braunfels ISD

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Nearly 11% of Texas districts received an A rating for the 2022-23 school year, 40% of districts earned a B, 32% scored a C, 14% received a D, and about 3% received an F, according to the TEA. Zooming in All but two BISD campuses received an A rating. Curington Elementary was just shy of an A rating, receiving 89 out of 100 possible points. The student achievement and school progress categories each rated at a B, scoring 89 out of 100 and 88 out of 100, respectively. Herff Elementary scored 85 out of 100 overall, with the lowest rated categories being school progress and closing the gaps, each scoring a C rating with 73 out of 100 and 72 out of 100, respectively. School performance ratings from the 2024-25 school year are expected to be issued in August.

Boerne ISD grows Pathways in Technology Early College High School program On April 21, Boerne ISD trustees reviewed the accomplishments of the Pathways in Technology Early College High School program. Completed college credit hours

and college, career and military readiness, said the total number of credit hours for the P-Tech in cybersecurity is 2,472, split between the graduating classes of 2025 through 2028. The total credit hours for health science are 567 hours, split between the same graduating classes. Poulis said more students are drawn to health science, which allows students interested in any health-related field to benefit from the program. Cybersecurity is a specialized field.

At BISD, P-Tech covers two education areas, including cybersecurity and health science. These programs partner with local colleges to pro- vide students opportunities to earn college credits while attending high school. The overview Christine Poulis, director of advanced academics

Health science • Class of 2025: N/A • Class of 2026: 20 • Class of 2027: 31 • Class of 2028: 567

• Class of 2025: 143 • Class of 2026: 1,489 • Class of 2027: 699 • Class of 2028: 141 Cybersecurity

SOURCE: BOERNE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

MORE STELLAR THAN USUAL!

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MAY 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison

OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts

Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.

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DETOURS

Clods and Monsters

Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.

acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”

The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314

YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”

The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH

OH. —Lauren Larson

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MADE IN TEXAS

The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.

Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda

Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.

BOERNE - FAIR OAKS RANCH EDITION

Space Center Houston tour guide Irwin Stewart.

for a movie about space to get a VIP tour from Stewart, though he has guided actor Natalie Portman, who portrayed an astronaut in 2019’s Lucy in the Sky, and director Alfonso Cuarón, an Oscar winner for 2013’s Gravity . You just have to reserve a spot on one of Stewart’s week- days-only excursions, which cost about $200 per person and are limited to small groups. With light gray hair styled in the manner of Albert Einstein’s, the 56-year-old Stewart is expressive and enthusiastic, often peppering conversations with “Did you know that?” He and eleven others on the Space Center’s sta give these specialized tours, and Stewart is comfortable with famous visitors. He is also a certified commercial pilot who spent more than a decade as an aircraft-maintenance in- structor. In other words, he can go deep on all things that fly. He can easily talk for three hours, the average length of a tour, and show no sign of flagging. Stewart greets me on a hot fall day at the entrance to Space Center Houston and makes small talk while he escorts me around the back of the building to a black SUV. Then, as he drives onto the NASA campus, he launch- es into tour guide mode. His voice becomes louder and more animated. “There’s one hundred buildings on this cam- pus! Each has its own specialty.” To read the rest of this article about Stew- art and more of our favorite tour guides all across Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

IF YOU’VE BEEN among the million-plus annual visitors to Space Center Houston, the museum at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you’ve probably seen the Apollo 17 command module, walked through the replica of the space shuttle Independence, and touched a moon rock. You may have even taken a tram to the 1,600-acre working campus behind the museum and walked up to the Saturn V rocket —more than thirty stories tall—lying on its side like a giant in repose. But have you met Irwin Stewart? You don’t have to be a celebrity preparing

FEATURE PREVIEW

Meet the Texperts Tour guides, park rangers, and docents interpret our state in wildly different ways, but their mission is the same: tell a story no one would ever want to walk away from. BY KATY VINE

TEXAS MONTHLY : WRITTEN BY TEXANS FOR TEXANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF READERS.

TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story!

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Events

BY JARRETT WHITENER

Art Waddle: Hill Country Art & Wine Festival Boerne’s Main Plaza will feature artists, live jazz, a wine tasting and an artists showcase. Named after the ducks that populate Cibolo Creek, the event helps raise funds for the Cibolo Center of Conservation. • May 23, 4-8 p.m., May 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • $20 (May 23), Free (May 24) • Boerne Main Plaza, 100 North Main St., Boerne • www.hccarts.org/art-waddle-hill-country-art- and-wine-festival

Boerne Family Fishing Tournament This free event invites the community to spend a day at Boerne City Lake to participate in fishing activities. Participants will not be required to have a fishing license. • June 7, 9 a.m. • Free • Boerne City Lake, 21 Upper Cibolo Creek Road, Boerne • www.ci.boerne.tx.us/629 Cave without a name concert In honor of National Cave & Karst Week, the Cave Without a Name will host a concert, featuring cellist Joseph Kuipers and accordionist Elena Fainshtein, who will perform inside the cave. National Cave & Karst Week focuses on raising awareness of the biology, history, geology and ongoing research and conservation of caves and karst systems. • June 7, 7:30 p.m. • $45 • Cave Without a Name, 325 Kreutzberg Road, Boerne • www.cavewithoutaname.com Das Festival of Kendall Featuring food, beer and live music over three days, the event aims to raise money for the following charities: Boerne Blaze Special Olympics, Private Bruno Phillip Veterans of Foreign War Post 688, Heartland Children’s Home and Comfort Table & Food Pantry. • June 13-15 • Free (admission) • Boerne Main Plaza, 100 North Main St., Boerne • https://dasfestival.org Boerne Movies in the Park The Boerne Parks and Recreation Movies in the Park series continues in June and July, showing a movie Tour de Boerne Cyclists in Boerne can put their skills to the test in the Tour de Boerne. The event features three courses for cyclists to race in, including 28-mile, 45-mile and 63-mile races. The bike ride event helps raise funds for local nonprofit organizations.

• June 28, 7 a.m. • $125+ • Don Strange Ranch, 103 Waring Welfare Road, Boerne • www.tourdeboerne.com

each month at the Main Plaza off Main Street. The movie showing on June 13 will be “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.” Guests are welcome to bring blankets, chairs and snacks. • June 13, 7 p.m. • Free • Boerne Main Plaza, 100 North Main St., Boerne • www.ci.boerne.tx.us/626 Grown Up Cup Boerne adults are encouraged to get active and participate in a field day featuring games and other activities. Teams will compete to see who comes out on top in games like giant Jenga, leapfrog, a wheelbarrow race and more. Registration for the event is suggested. • June 27 • Free • Northrup Park, 37550 frontage road, Boerne • www.ci.boerne.tx.us

May

Boerne Concert Band Memorial Day Concert Join the Boerne Concert Band at the Main Plaza for a free concert in the park. This family-oriented event brings in local musicians and performances for locals to enjoy. The event will be held multiple times throughout the year. • May 25, 7-9 p.m. • Free • Boerne Main Plaza, 100 North Main St., Boerne • www.boerneconcertband.com Family Kite Day Grab a kite and head to Boerne City Lake for a day of flying. This will be the first annual kite day event in the city of Boerne, inviting residents to enjoy the morning and early afternoon winds or spend a day at the park. Kites will be provided by the Parks and Recreation Department while supplies last. • May 30, 9 a.m.-Noon • $5 (lake admission) • Boerne City Lake, 21 Upper Cibolo Creek Road, Boerne • www.ci.boerne.tx.us/2571

July

Flag Run 5K To kick off Independence Day, a Flag Run 5K is being held as a fundraiser for the Boerne Fire Department. A 5K run and a 1-mile walk are available for registration, offering options for participants of all ages and fitness levels. • July 4, 8 a.m. • $40 • Boerne Main Plaza, 100 North Main St., Boerne • Facebook: Flag Run 5K

June

Aid the Silent 5K run and walk To help raise funds and support for the deaf and hard- of-hearing community, Aid the Silent will host a 5K run and walk starting in downtown Boerne. The run will take attendees along the river downtown, highlighting the scenic route through Boerne. • June 7 8 a.m. • $35 • Boerne Main Plaza, 100 North Main Street, Boerne • www.aidthesilent.com/5K

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