During its May 21 meeting, the Board of Trustees agenda included:

The Board will meet next for a regular meeting Thursday, June 4.

Meeting Agenda
Meeting Recording

Spotlight on Learning: Grandview Hills ES

Students and staff from Grandview Hills Elementary highlighted the campus’ focus on student empowerment through student-led learning, leadership opportunities and strong family partnerships.

Throughout the presentation, students shared how Grandview’s student-led conferences help them take ownership of their learning by reflecting on goals, showcasing projects and communicating their growth directly with families. Students also highlighted leadership opportunities through Eagle Ambassadors, campus service projects and schoolwide events designed to build confidence, responsibility and collaboration.

Way to go, Eagles!

Spotlight on Learning: C² from Leander & Stiles Middle Schools

Students from Leander Middle School and Stiles Middle School highlighted the impact of C², a student-led organization focused on building positive campus culture, promoting kindness and strengthening student leadership.

Students shared how C² helps create welcoming school environments through activities such as Unity Day, Kindness Week, campus culture nights, peer outreach, anti-bullying initiatives and community service projects. Students also discussed districtwide collaboration through the organization’s “Forum for Change,” which brought together students from multiple campuses to share ideas and strengthen student voice across Leander ISD.

Way to go, Tigers and Spartans!

Community Advisory Committee Continues Work Ahead of Potential 2026 Bond Election Consideration

CFAC presentation

🎬 9.C.1. Citizen Facility Advisory Committee (CFAC) Process Overview

Trustees received an update on the ongoing Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee (CFAC) process, which is helping evaluate and prioritize facility, infrastructure, technology, safety and operational needs across Leander ISD ahead of the Board’s consideration of a potential November 2026 bond election.

District leaders noted that while past bond discussions in Leander ISD were were largely driven by rapid enrollment growth and the need to build new campuses, the district is now entering a different phase of planning — one increasingly focused on modernization, lifecycle replacement, aging infrastructure and the long-term stewardship of existing facilities and systems.

The committee includes approximately 100 community members serving across a primary steering committee and six subcommittees focused on elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, safety and security, technology and ancillary services. To date, members have reviewed more than 90 project categories and over 170 individual line items tied to campus and districtwide needs.

Themes that consistently emerged throughout the committee process have included:

  • Protecting and modernizing existing facility systems
  • Prioritizing long-term operational reliability and infrastructure stewardship
  • Balancing academics, operations and student experience
  • Understanding how deferred maintenance can increase future costs and disruptions

A major focus of the discussion centered on facility aging and modernization needs. District leaders shared that 10 facilities are projected to reach the 25-year lifecycle milestone between 2026 and 2030, marking the beginning of a broader period of increased modernization and reinvestment needs across the district.

The next phase of the process will focus on Steering Committee prioritization and recommendation development, with final recommendations expected to come before the Board later this summer.

District leaders also shared that the June 4 Board meeting will include discussion of an updated approach to guide the district’s broader future-focused planning. This work builds on the CFAC efforts, while also moving beyond a single bond cycle toward a more future-focused planning framework.

The deadline for the Board to call a potential November 2026 bond election is Aug. 17.

Previous Updates

Instructional Materials Process Advances Toward Final K–5 Math Recommendation

Instructional Materials Adoption presentation

🎬 9.A.1. Discussion of 2026-2027 Instructional Materials, K-5 Math

Following previous updates this spring on the district’s instructional materials adoption process, Trustees received a recommendation for Amplify Desmos Math as the district’s new K–5 math instructional resource planned for implementation beginning in the 2027–28 school year.

For additional background and details, see the Jan. 22, April 2 and April 23 editions of Board Briefs.

The recommendation was shaped through educator feedback, steering committee evaluations, campus professional learning community (PLC) input and community viewing opportunities conducted throughout the spring review process. The review process began with four state-approved vendors before narrowing to two finalists: Amplify Desmos Math Texas and Savvas enVision+.

Administrators also shared that Amplify Desmos Math Texas has already been piloted at three elementary schools this year. As a resource, it includes built-in intervention, extension and instructional resources designed to better support both teachers and students.

The district plans to use a phased rollout approach, allowing time for staff training, classroom learning and early campus feedback before full districtwide implementation in 2027–28. Formal Board approval is expected to be considered during the June 4 meeting.

Previous Updates

Trustees Review Proposed 2026–27 Budget, Property Value Outlook

Budget Overview Presentation

🎬 9.C.3. 2026 Property Value Overview, Discussion of 2026-2027 Proposed Budgets for Adoption, and House Bill 1522 Required Taxpayer Impact Statement

As Leander ISD continues developing the 2026–27 budget, Trustees reviewed updated budget projections, preliminary property value estimates and the required taxpayer impact statement ahead of formal budget adoption later this summer.

The discussion continued the district’s broader financial planning conversations this spring, which have focused on stabilizing district finances following significant reductions entering both the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years while continuing to navigate rising operational costs and limited increases to the state’s per-student funding formula since 2019.

Topics reviewed during the presentation included:

  • Updated 2025–26 budget projections
  • Preliminary 2026 property value estimates
  • Proposed General Fund, Debt Service, and Child Nutrition Services budgets for 2026–27
  • The required House Bill 1522 taxpayer impact statement
  • Continued long-range planning considerations connected to future district finances and operations

Administrators shared that preliminary property values declined approximately 0.77% overall compared to prior projections, reflecting a slowing local housing market. The updated estimates also reduced anticipated “hold harmless” funding from the state – funding protection calculations tied to property value changes. This creates an additional late-stage budget impact for the district.

The taxpayer impact statement presented during the meeting showed the district’s projected tax rate remaining unchanged from the prior year at $1.0869 per $100 valuation based on current preliminary estimates, and reflected an estimated tax bill for a median-valued homestead would decrease slightly because of lower projected property values. District leaders noted the estimates remain preliminary pending receipt of certified values from the Williamson and Travis Central Appraisal Districts later this summer.

District leaders also noted that while the proposed budget remains within the Board’s previously approved 3% deficit parameter, additional reductions could still be necessary in future years if enrollment declines and state funding challenges continue.

Previous Updates

Hiring Announcements: North Elementary Principal, LISD Deputy Superintendent of Learning & Innovation

North Elementary Principal Gina Freeman
Leander ISD Deputy Superintendent of Learning & Innovation Angela Hodges

Leander ISD is pleased to welcome Gina Freeman as the new principal of North Elementary School and Angela Hodges to the role of Deputy Superintendent of Learning & Innovation after the Board approved the recommendations at Thursday’s Board meeting.

North Elementary
Deputy Superintendent of
Learning & Innovation