During its Dec. 12 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included: 

Meeting Agenda
Meeting Recording

Spotlight on Learning: River Ridge Elementary

During the Spotlight on Learning, students from River Ridge Elementary shared how Genius Hour allows them to pursue their interests and take ownership of their learning. Once a week, students have the opportunity to conduct research on something they picked – this year, that was in the school improvement category. Currently, students are trying to solve issues with the grass on the playground and sticker burrs.

It’s clear that at River Ridge, Rattlers think big, dream big, believe big and achieve big through Genius Hour.

Board Recognitions

Special thanks to Leander High School students Kaidyn and Kalia for helping celebrate stand-out individuals and accomplishments around #1LISD.

The Board recognized the following:

  • UIL Band State Finalists
  • UIL Cross Country State Finalists
  • UIL Volleyball State Finalist
  • School Resource Officer (SRO) Recognition Week, Dec. 2–6

Strategic Plan goal: Impactful Family Engagement

Impactful Family Engagement

🎬 7.A.1. Impactful Family Engagement Formative Review

Throughout the 2024–25 school year’s Board Meeting calendar, LISD is presenting a formative review of one goal within the five-year Strategic Plan and the District Improvement Plan. In this meeting, district administrators reviewed the Impactful Family Engagement goal.

Initiatives to strengthen family engagement and foster meaningful school-community partnerships center on the district’s efforts to improve trust and communication, including storytelling opportunities in each of the other goal areas of the strategic plan.

These examples represent only a small fraction of the impactful family engagement happening in the district as increased opportunities to invite families into their student’s school has helped deepen campus-family connections.

Previous Updates

Engagement with Community Shapes Advocacy Priorities for 89th Legislative Session

Trends in the Data

🎬 7.B.1. Legislative Committee Update
🎬 7.B.2. Legislative Listening Circles Update
🎬 7.B.3. Discuss and Consider Approval of Leander ISD’s Legislative Priorities for the 89th Legislative Session

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees reviewed community input gathered through Legislative Listening Circles to guide advocacy priorities for the state’s upcoming 89th legislative session. 

Approved Legislative Priorities

These sessions engaged the #1LISD community – including students, parents, educators, and community leaders – to discuss critical topics like curriculum innovation, teacher salaries, school safety, mental health and state funding. 

Participants emphasized the importance of personalized learning opportunities, competitive teacher compensation, proactive safety measures, and robust mental health support. Concerns about special education funding, equitable resource allocation and opposition to voucher programs also emerged as key themes.

The listening circles underscored the need for systemic reforms to address teacher retention challenges, classroom safety and mental health resources. 

Feedback also highlighted the significance of building strong family-school partnerships and ensuring equitable access to extracurricular activities, advanced learning opportunities and career-technical education programs. 

Leander ISD is committed to leveraging this input to advocate for policies that enhance educational quality, safety, and inclusivity while preserving the integrity of public education.

The Texas 89th Legislative Session begins Jan. 14, 2025.

Previous Updates

Naming Process for New Facility Complex: Special Education 18+ Transition Services & Science Materials Center

Construction photo of facility complex

🎬 7.C.1. Discussion of Naming Charter Process for the Special Education 18+ Transition Services & Science Materials Center

Fresh off of a groundbreaking ceremony earlier in December for the joint facility complex for the Special Education 18+ Transition Services program and for the Science Materials Center, the Board took initial steps in naming these two buildings by discussing a naming process and involvement from the community.

Focusing on establishing a clear and inclusive process, the charter will establish parameters for committee membership, expected outcomes and decision-making authority, ensuring the naming process aligns with district policies and community values. 

Trustees discussed potential revisions to the draft, such as the naming format and the inclusion of multiple name options, emphasizing a thoughtful and collaborative approach.

Construction on these new facilities is expected to be complete by Fall 2025.

About the Programs

LISD’s Science Materials Center creates ready-made science kits for all of the district’s elementary school classrooms to provide students with hands-on learning. As the district has grown in the number of elementary classrooms, the existing SMC warehouse has become too small for storage and distribution of the materials.

The 18+ Transition Services program provides young adults, 18 to 22 years old, with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful transition into community and adult living.

A perfect pairing, setting the new building for these programs next to each other on the same lot will further accommodate the work-based learning opportunities available to 18+ Transition Services students at the Science Materials Center. 

As a resource to the #1LISD community to learn more about these projects and track their progress, the district has created a Bond & Construction Projects page. Specific project pages include an overall scope of the project, the status of the project, a timeline, information about contractors and vendors, and more.

Previous Updates

Preparations Underway for 2025–26 Budget

Budget Timeline and Next

🎬 7.C.2. Discussion of Proposed 2025-2026 Budget Development Calendar & Budget Pre-Assumptions

District leadership presented an overview of the proposed 2025-2026 Budget Development Calendar and Pre-Assumptions. The discussion aimed to outline the strategic and operational framework guiding the budget process. 

The following priorities identified by the Board at a previous meeting will guide the budget-making process: 

  • Student support and the student experience
  • System efficiencies for maximizing revenue
  • Staffing effectiveness and efficiency

Leadership emphasized the importance of flexibility, noting that pre-assumptions will be adjusted as more accurate data becomes available throughout the spring semester.

Economic projections indicated modest growth in property values and a gradual decline in interest rates, setting a cautious tone for revenue expectations. Legislative updates underscored potential impacts related to property tax relief, school safety funding and general uncertainty ahead of the upcoming 89th Legislative Session. Demographics and enrollment data reflected a shift toward a reduced growth scenario, likely impacting staffing and revenue.

The budget development timeline highlighted a detailed progression from presenting preliminary assumptions and receiving input throughout before bringing it before the Board for final adoption by June 2025. The pre-assumptions will come back for the Board’s approval in January.

Previous Updates

Superintendent Update Notes Progress on Raider Way Project

Raider Way aerial view

🎬 6. Superintendent’s Report

In an update provided by Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D., overhead visuals of the Raider Way widening project show significant progress.

Currently one-way through Woodview Drive and onto Raider Way, later this month, the completion of the roundabout at the intersection of those two streets will help facilitate the traffic pattern changing back to two-way on Raider Way while remaining one-way on Woodview Drive.

Additional communication on how this will impact morning drop off and afternoon pick up for the Wiley Middle School and Rouse High School communities will be shared by those schools in the coming days.

Thank you to these communities for the patience they have shown while navigating this widening project. A special shout out to our campus administrators and their teams for the work they have done to help mitigate the level of disruption. We’d also like to thank our partners with the City of Leander and CTRMA for their ongoing collaboration.

Hiring Announcement: Deputy Superintendent of Innovation and Learning

Deputy Superintendent of Learning & Innovation; Announcing Chris Clark, Ed.D.

Leander ISD is excited to welcome Chris Clark, Ed.D., to the role of deputy superintendent of learning and innovation, after the Board approved his hiring at Thursday night’s meeting. 

New Location for Leander ISD Board Meetings Starting in January

Board Meeting Location Change

After nearly 18 months at Concordia University in Austin, the time has come to again change the location of Leander ISD Board of Trustee meetings, this time to a location in the city of Cedar Park. Starting Jan. 9, 2025, the Board meeting will take place in Cedar Park Middle School’s library. [2100 Sun Chase Blvd., Cedar Park, 78613]

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