EDUCATION BRIEFS
CITY & COUNTY
Stories from Hutto & Pflugerville ISDs
News from Hutto & Pflugerville
COMPILED BY CARSON GANONG
COMPILED BY CARSON GANONG
HIGHLIGHTS HUTTO On Jan. 10, officials
HIGHLIGHTS PFLUGERVILLE ISD On Jan. 19, trustees approved contracts with five architecture firms for initial design work on its 2022 bond projects. PfISD Board President Vernagene Mott said the firms were selected from 18 that submitted applications. Bond projects include renovations to facilities across the district in addition to teacher housing. HUTTO ISD Trustees approved the creation of 10 “ghost” teaching positions on Jan. 12. Ghost positions are used to bring new teachers into the district until a standard position opens up for them. District materials indicate the positions, if filled, would cost the district approximately $600,000. Pflugerville ISD board of trustees Meets Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. 1401 W. Pecan St., Pflugerville 512-594-0000 www.pfisd.net Hutto ISD board of trustees MEETINGS WE COVER
New drought contingency plan brings year-round restrictions PFLUGERVILLE City officials
$12M in water plant contracts to upgrade facilities in Hutto HUTTO Several design, con- struction and purchase contracts totaling $12 million will bring upgrades to the water and waste- water system in Hutto. City Council approved the contracts at a Jan. 19 meeting. A $9.5 million contract will fund the construction of four new water pumps and deliver other improve- ments at the Shiloh Pump Station. City officials said the project will increase the station’s capacity from 3.27 million gallons per day to 5.7 million. Two contracts totaling $1.2 million will cover the cost of a generator and six water pumps that will upgrade the Frame Switch Pump Station. The final contract is a $1.3 million order for engineering and design work on an expansion of the South Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Hutto board calls $522M bond election HUTTO ISD Voters in Hutto ISD will have the opportunity to vote on three bond propositions totaling $522 million this May. The Hutto ISD board of trustees The approved items are split into three propositions. Proposition A totals $471.5 million and includes two new elementary schools and build-out of the Ninth Grade Center into a comprehensive high school.
PfISD provides update on federal ESSER fund uses PFLUGERVILLE ISD The district has used just over half of its third Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief allocation. The $29.7 million in federal fund- ing was allocated to Pflugerville ISD in March 2021. At a Jan. 19 meeting, Chief Finan- cial Officer Jennifer Land said as of December, the district had used around $15 million from the third ESSER allocation. With the federal deadline to use the ESSER money coming in September 2024, Land said the district is spending the funds at an expected pace. She said around 60 full-time positions are funded using ESSER allocations, and the district will have to consider how to continue funding those positions once the ESSER money is gone.
Pflugerville City Council Will meet Feb. 14 and 28 at 7 p.m. 1611 E. Pfennig Lane, Pflugerville 512-990-6101 www.pflugervilletx.gov Hutto City Council Will meet Feb. 16 and March 2 at 7 p.m. 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto 512-759-4033 • www.huttotx.gov MEETINGS WE COVER approved a $7.1 million contract to purchase electrical equipment for the new wastewater treatment plant west of Wilbarger Creek in Pflugerville. City Council is expected to consider a construction contract for the plant, which will increase city capacity to 15.75 million gallons per day, in April. PFLUGERVILLE At a Jan. 19 City Council meeting, city staff proposed an improvement plan for Fritz Park in Hutto. If approved, improvements would include adding a splash pad, pond, trails and a food truck court. Project improvements would cost $10 million-$15 million, according to city documents. Council will discuss action for the project at an upcoming meeting.
City Council approved the updated drought contingency plan at a Jan. 24 meeting. The days a given user is allowed to water depend on their address and whether they are a residential or commercial customer, according to the plan. The new plan, which went into effect immediately upon approval, also condenses water restriction stages during a drought from four stages to three and ties the water restriction stage to the level of water in Lake Pflugerville. Utilities Director Brandon Pritchett said the updated drought plan more closely aligns with policies of other nearby cities and the Lower Colorado River Authority. “These are normally updated every five years, but we wanted to be more in line with our partners,” Pritchett said.
approved a new plan for managing water shortages that limits users to watering two days per week through- out the year.
approved an item calling the election at a Jan. 26 meeting. As approved, the bond package includes the full $482 million recommendation from the district’s long-range facilities planning committee as well as another $40 million recommended by district administrators for improvements to the district academic center.
At $10.5 million, Proposition B is for instructional technology. Proposition C is for the $40 million academic center improvements. District officials said Proposition A in particular will be vital to helping the district keep up with its growing enrollment. Election day is May 6. Early voting will begin April 24.
PERMITTED WATERING DAYS
A customer in Pflugerville is allowed to water based on a combination of factors.
Residential property Even-numbered address Thursdays & Sundays Odd-numbered address Wednesdays & Saturdays Commercial/ multifamily facilities Tuesdays & Fridays
BOND PROPOSITIONS
PROPOSITION A: $471.5M • new elementary schools • renovations, additions • maintenance projects PROPOSITION B: $10.5M • instructional technology devices PROPOSITION C: $40M • district academic center
Hutto ISD administrators will split the bond into three propositions. The majority will go toward new campuses and renovations.
TOTAL: $522M
Meets Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. 200 College St., Hutto 512-759-3771 www.hipponation.org
Schools Mondays & Fridays
SOURCE: HUTTO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
ROUND ROCK 201 University Oaks Blvd (512) 341-9066
GEORGETOWN 1013 W University Ave (512) 868-6696
ARBORETUM 10515 N Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893
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