During its Aug. 6 meeting, the Board of Trustees agenda included:
- Trustees Discuss Potential Bond Timing & School Funding Election
- Board Approves Student Code of Conduct
- Hiring Announcements: Principals for Deer Creek Elementary & Larkspur Elementary
The Board will meet next for a meeting Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
Trustees Discuss Potential Bond Timing & School Funding Election
🎬 6.B.1. Discussion of Potential Bond and Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE)
Trustees continued discussions around Leander ISD’s long-range facility and financial planning, with the Aug. 6 meeting focusing on two major considerations: timing for a potential future bond election and the possibility of a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) in November.
Potential Bond Timing
After hearing the Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee’s recommendations July 30, district leaders indicated Leander ISD is not expected to move forward with a November 2026 bond election. Instead, the district plans to preserve the CFAC’s work as the foundation for a possible future bond election while allowing additional time for long-range planning, community communication and further refinement of project scope, sequencing and implementation.
District leaders emphasized that delaying a bond election does not eliminate the needs identified through the CFAC process. Several realities remain unchanged:
- Facilities will continue to age
- Required infrastructure needs remain
- Students and staff continue relying on district facilities every day
- Stewardship of existing community investments remains a district responsibility
If a future bond election is considered in May 2027, administration shared that the district would focus on preserving the CFAC planning process, using the additional time intentionally, managing risks tied to delay and keeping Trustees informed along the way.
Managing Near-Term Facility and Technology Needs
The presentation also outlined a potential six-month “bridge” strategy using existing bond savings for critical timing needs. These could include:
- Initial bus replacements tied to the state’s seat belt requirement
- Student technology device replacement
- Safety-related radio antenna infrastructure
- Priority HVAC needs
Use of bond savings would require Bond Oversight Committee consideration.
Potential Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election
Trustees also reviewed details related to a possible Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, which would allow voters to decide whether the district could access three additional “copper pennies” on the Maintenance & Operations tax rate. M&O funding supports day-to-day operations, including staff pay, programs and student services.
The discussion connected directly to the district’s broader budget challenge: the quality of education, programs and services the community expects and deserves is becoming harder and harder to sustain.
Why Another VATRE Is Being Considered
Leander ISD is considering another VATRE because financial pressures have continued to grow. District leaders pointed to several factors, including:
- No meaningful increase to the state’s per-student funding mechanism – the basic allotment – since 2019
- Rising costs for unfunded and underfunded mandates, including special education, safety and security, prekindergarten and dyslexia
- Inflationary increases in insurance, utilities, fuel, maintenance supplies and other operating costs
- The expiration of temporary federal ESSER funds
- Slower enrollment growth
District leaders emphasized that a VATRE would not solve every financial challenge facing the district. With or without a VATRE, Leander ISD will continue evaluating revenue opportunities and cost-saving measures, including Career and Technical Education expansion, attendance initiatives, open enrollment, Additional Days School Year, Teacher Incentive Allotment planning and additional efficiencies.
Tax Rate Timeline and Impact
The Board is expected to consider adopting the tax rate Aug. 17, which is also the deadline to call a VATRE for the Nov. 3 election.
The proposed VATRE tax rate would be $1.1169 per $100 valuation, compared to $1.0869 without a VATRE. Based on the district’s average taxable home value, the presentation estimated the VATRE scenario would result in an increase of approximately $27.56 per year, or $2.30 per month, compared to 2025–26.
Board Approves Student Code of Conduct
Trustees approved the updated Student Code of Conduct, which works alongside the Student Handbook, outlining expectations for student behavior and the disciplinary measures used to support safe, respectful learning environments across Leander ISD.
The Handbook also includes new guidelines for e-bikes and similar personal transportation devices. The updated expectations distinguish legal, low-power devices from higher-powered electric motorcycles and establish safety expectations for students riding to school. With students walking, biking and riding alongside buses and other vehicles during busy arrival and dismissal times, the guidance is intended to reduce risks for riders and those around them.
Hiring Announcements: Principals for Deer Creek Elementary & Larkspur Elementary
Leander ISD is pleased to welcome Allison Brown as the new principal of Deer Creek Elementary and Michael Blackmon as new principal of Larkspur Elementary after the Board approved the recommendations at Thursday’s Board meeting.
