During its March 28 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included: 

Meeting Agenda
Meeting Recording

Spotlight on Learning: Glenn HS

During the Spotlight on Learning, Glenn High School students shared how they have a deeper understanding and connection to their learning, in part because of the strong and thriving relationship they have with their teacher.

It’s great to see reciprocal empowerment taking place between students and teachers for these Grizzlies.

Newest Elementary School Named After Long-Time Trustee

Recommendation: Donald Lewis Hisle

🎬 7.A.2. Discussion and Consider Approval of Elementary School #30 Naming

Leander ISD’s 30th elementary school now has a name: “Donald Lewis Hisle Elementary”

At the March 28 board meeting, Trustees approved the naming committee’s recommendation to name its newest school after long-time Trustee, Donald Hisle, who served on the LISD Board for 23 years before retiring in 2018. 

The school will open in Fall 2024 and will be located in the northwest part of the district near Devine Lake Park off of San Gabriel Parkway and Bagdad Road in Leander [map]. Hisle Elementary School will provide enrollment relief to Bagdad and Plain elementary schools.

During his tenure as a Trustee, Hisle’s leadership helped oversee the district’s growth from 8 schools to 42 schools and from less than 10,000 students to nearly 40,000 students.

Board President Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Ph.D., commended the naming committee’s diligence in reviewing the 600-plus submissions, representing more than 70 unique nominees, and giving the time and attention each nomination deserved.

“I want to thank the committee for volunteering their time and being part of such an important process,” she said. “As our committee chair shared, we know how tough this can be because of the seemingly endless list of incredible people who have walked the halls of our school district to make it what it is today.

“I was fortunate to see firsthand Donnie’s dedication to LISD,” she added. “It demonstrated his belief in the power of public education, volunteering his time and constantly showing up for the students of our district.”

In the video below, hear from Committee Chair Jennifer Gross about the difficult process this was to narrow down the number of submissions, and how the committee landed on Hisle as the unanimous recommendation.

Previous Updates

Instructional Materials Selection Process Update

Instructional Materials: Adoption TImeline

🎬 7.A.1. Discussion of 2024-2025 Instructional Materials Recommendation for Adoption

After a months-long process, district staff presented instructional material selections for the 2024–25 school year. LISD teachers have worked hand-in-hand with district administrators throughout the research and selection process. Input and feedback have been gathered from staff, parents, students, and community members through virtual and in-person opportunities.

The Board received recommendations for the purchasing of new instructional materials for the following courses:

  • Career & Technology Education
    • Technology Applications (6-8)
    • Principles of Education and Training
    • Instructional Practices
    • Human Growth and Development
    • Medical Terminology
    • Medical Microbiology
    • Anatomy and Physiology
    • Health Science Theory
    • Forensic Science
    • Computer Science I
    • AP Computer Science
    • Cybersecurity Capstone
    • Fundamentals of Computer Science
    • Foundations of Cybersecurity
  • Advanced Placement Courses
    • AP Economics
    • AP European History
    • AP Government
    • AP Psychology
  • Science (all grades & courses)
    • K-5 Science
    • 6-8 Scien
    • All HS Courses
      (including Astronomy, an approved new course, and AP Chemistry)

The Board will consider the recommendations at its April 11 meeting. Visit the Instructional Materials Selection page to learn more about the process the district goes through each year for a rotating set of courses and subjects.

Previous Updates

Approved Resolution Directs LISD to Share Feedback on Proposed Dyslexia Rules from the State

🎬 7.B.1. Consider Approval of Resolution Directing Administration to Submit Feedback to the Draft State Board of Education Regarding the Dyslexia Rules and Draft Handbook

The Board approved a resolution to direct district administration to submit feedback to the State Board of Education (SBOE) on its new proposed rules and draft Dyslexia Handbook to ensure clarity for both the district and parents.

These changes by SBOE come after a recent change to state law that aligns Texas with most of the nation in categorizing dyslexia services more squarely in the special education department and served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

In reviewing the draft handbook, areas of potential vagueness could result in confusion and unnecessary tension between parents and their school.

“This is not us disagreeing with the new dyslexia law,” Board Vice President Anna Smith said. “This is us advocating for the new dyslexia law to be a better law. I feel like they’re creating a challenging environment between parents and school districts. And so what I like about this resolution is it shows that our district is advocating for a better system and a better solution for our students with dyslexia.”

Per the resolution, LISD’s comments will seek to provide suggestions to improve clarity of the document while keeping the focus on providing students with the best opportunity to access their education.

Discussion for Secondary Attendance Zones for 2024–25

Zoning: Actions Taken Since Approval

🎬 7.A.3. Discussion of Secondary Schools Attendance Zoning

New attendance zones for middle school and high school will go into effect in 2024–25. At Thursday’s meeting, LISD administration recapped last year’s zoning process, shared updated enrollment numbers and captured all that has been implemented since these zones were adopted in June 2023.

In the time since approving the new attendance zones, the district received its annual demographer’s report in October, which did show some variance in enrollment numbers and projections.

After a careful review of the data – specifically a new bubble of students in the Cedar Park area in a pocket of grade levels – LISD administration showed evidence, including student transfers, indicating the new zoning approved by the Board in June 2023 puts the overall district on an optimal path forward.

“Looking at the year-over-year comparison in enrollment based on current 2023-24 data and projections for 2024–25, you see the darker shading showing increased amounts of schools over or under capacity replaced with much more muted colors,” Board Secretary Christine Mauer said. “This, to me, says that every school will be more evenly sharing the district’s population. A number of our high schools have been at or over capacity for a while now, and this shift seeks to more evenly distribute that across our schools.”

The reason behind the secondary zoning process happening in the spring of the year prior was to allow time for families to plan and prepare. Everything from student course selections to the opportunity to transfer to a different school requires families know ahead of time what zoning changes will be.

The extra time also allows districts and campuses to correctly allocate staffing and look at course offerings based on the adjusted enrollment.

Previous Updates