During its June 27 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included: 

Meeting Agenda
Meeting Recording

Board Recognitions

Leander ISD is beaming with pride as we shout-out to these incredible students for dominating with excellence! A big high-five to their teachers, coaches, and mentors for achievements at the highest level.

The Board recognized the following:

  • UIL Baseball State Medalist
  • Texas Science and Engineering Fair Award
  • Destination Imagination

Board Adopts 2024–25 Budget

Budget pie chart

🎬 9.C.9. Consider Adoption of the 2024-2025 Budget

Following months of planning and work to provide the resources necessary to support the #1LISD mission, the Board approved the general operating budget for 2024–2025.

Features of the $461.6 million budget include:

  • Support for an estimated 43,300 students
  • 87% of operating budget allocated toward payroll, including an across-the-board 2.5% of midpoint raise for all staff
  • Formation of a police department
  • Start-up costs for Hisle Elementary School
  • Continued expansion of the Early College HS program
  • $11.5 million sent back to the state in the form of recapture

This budget results in a total deficit of $13 million, which is within the 3% budget parameter approved by the Board at the start of the budget process. This budget reflects LISD doing its best to keep up with expanding programs, while absorbing losses from other funding sources and no additional state funds, despite Texas’ record surplus during the latest legislative session.

Budgets for the General, Child Nutrition, and Debt Service Funds are included in the official district budget.

2024–25 Tax Rate Proposals

To fund this budget, the tax rate is projected to be $1.0869, a $0.0218 or more than 2-cent decrease from the previous year. The final tax rate is scheduled to be adopted by the Board in August or September.

The projected tax rate decrease is represented in the state-required compression of the Maintenance & Operations portion of the tax rate. The Interest & Sinking (I&S) portion of the tax rate will remain flat at $0.33.

Previous Updates

Internal Audit Assessment Report & Sequence Approved

Proposed sequence for Internal Audit

🎬 9.B.1. Consider Approval of Internal Audit Risk Assessment Report

The Board approved the Internal Audit Risk Assessment Report and Proposed Sequence of Internal Audit Activities presented by Gibson Consulting, an outside consulting firm.

Gibson Consulting conducted the initial review this spring. This work is meant to help assess levels of risk in order to develop an audit schedule. The report is not an assessment of each specified area. That would come from a full, more thorough audit of that area.

Gibson Consulting shared the following Global Themes that emerged from their assessment:

  • Leadership turnover in many departments has increased management risk across the district.
  • Manual processes and review controls exist in many areas, either due to potential system limitations or a reliance upon previous operating philosophies. Multiple interviewees stated that the district is trying to modernize systems and processes to better fit a large district but is still holding on to potentially outdated approaches in some areas.
  • Documented procedures and procedural training exist in many areas but are not implemented systemwide.

The approved sequence of area-specific audits will start with three areas in 2024–25: Construction Management, Human Resources and Federal Programs.

Committee Work Steers Design Process for Early Childhood Center

Early Childhood Center: Conceptual Building Plan

🎬 9.C.1. Discussion of the Early Childhood Center Design Charrette Process

In May 2024, a design committee of parents, staff, teachers, architects and construction managers completed a Design Charrette for the LISD’s new Early Childhood Center. 

Recommended by the Long Range Planning Committee and then the Bond Oversight Committee, and later approved by the Board in October 2023, this facility will be paid for by Bond 2023 funds. Located in northern Leander, this project will seek to relieve elementary school in the northern part of the district. Current projections have the building ready for students in August 2026.

The work of the design committee, led by a consultant from thinkSMART Planning, Inc., centered around a number of factors, including the community’s vision, educational goals and functional needs, among others. 

Through the committee’s four workshops, the following eight Visionary Ideas emerged:

  • Play-based Learning
  • Nature-based Play
  • Social Emotional Learning
  • Student Centered
  • Family Support
  • Inclusive Practices
  • Socializations
  • Teaching Practices

The project’s architect, O’Connell Robertson shared a conceptual design. Design work is expected to continue through 2024 with construction starting in March 2025.

To follow along with this specific project, visit the Early Childhood Center page.

Previous Updates

Bond 2023: Project Funds Released for Leander HS Masterplan’s Phase 1 Construction

Leander HS construction

🎬 7.B. Consider Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price #2 for Leander High School Masterplan

Trustees approved the second Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract for the Leander High School Masterplan Redesign’s Phase 1, allowing for the release of Bond funds already allocated for this project.

This GMP will go toward the construction phase of this project. Construction work on this project is anticipated to begin in July.

GMP #2

  • Leander HS: $18,294,396 (for a total GMP of $21,682,351)

Phase 1 of the Leander HS Masterplan Redesign addresses the Athletic area [campus layout] of the campus. This phase will be split into four separate sections:

  • Phase 1A – Relocating the utilities for the auxiliary gym and weight room additions. Construction is underway.
  • Phase 1B – Addition of an Auxiliary Gym (to be located next to the existing Competition Gym) and a new Weight Room. This phase also includes security gates to enable the campus to be separated from the Don Tew Performing Arts Center and the gymnasiums. Construction estimated to start August 2024
  • Phase 1C – Remodel the existing athletic area. Construction estimated to start Summer 2025
  • Phase 1D – Remodel the existing Blue Belle dance space, auxiliary gym and rubber gym into a wrestling room, dance/cheer gym with supporting spaces and fitness center. Construction estimated to start Summer 2025

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.

Bond & Construction Projects

Previous Updates

Hiring Announcement: Chief Operations Officer

Leander ISD is pleased to welcome Jeremy Trimble to the role of Chief Operations Officer after the Board approved the hiring Thursday night.