During its Jan. 18 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included:
During the Spotlight on Learning, students from Leander ISD’s Extended Opportunity (LEO) Center shared how teachers make them feel heard, how to learn from their mistakes and how to grow and reach their goal. Thank you to these students for talking about their experiences and demonstrating resilience.
As we continue to celebrate School Board Recognition Month, we want to say thank you and “Spread the Word” of the tireless work Trustees do to support public education and advocate for our district while listening and upholding the needs of our community.
Before Thursday’s Board meeting, we held a reception to show our appreciation of these Trustees who volunteer their time in service of our students and staff.
In his report to the Board, Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. shared information about the district’s work with the Spirit Cultural Exchange Program. Through this, LISD has 32 teachers from 8 countries working here on J-1 visas, which allows individuals to participate in a work-study-based exchange visitor programs.
During the meeting, 11 teachers from the Philippines projected their culture through dance.
🎬 7.A.1. Consider Approval of Elementary School #30 Attendance Zoning Recommendation
During the attendance zoning agenda item, Trustees voiced a desire to see changes in the elementary school zoning process and voted against the district-recommended scenario as presented.
The district will continue its work collecting and examining functional capacity numbers from elementary schools in the impacted areas and will explore next steps before bringing this item back before the Board in February. A school’s functional capacity takes into account the program offerings and specific ways classrooms are utilized in order to provide a more realistic projection of available space.
“This is a hard process, and I think a lot of that is credit to our wonderful teachers and principals and schools for creating this community that people love,” said Board President Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Ph.D. “While change can be challenging, we’re fortunate in Leander ISD to know that no matter the school, there are no bad options. All of our #1LISD schools are home to vibrant learning opportunities each and every day.”
As part of the 10-year Long-Range Plan for Leander ISD, Elementary School #30 is scheduled to open in August 2024 to address the growth in the northern part of the district.
The process began Oct. 5, 2023, when the Board reviewed the charter that was developed by the Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC). After three rounds of community feedback and six community forums, the scenario was shared with the LRPC to evaluate to what degree the scenario met the parameters established in the charter.
🎬 7.A.2. 2024-2025, 2025-2026 Academic Calendar Discussion
Following the conclusion of a comprehensive feedback process, the district presented its 2024–25 academic calendar recommendation for consideration. Approval will be sought at the Feb. 1 Board meeting.
Key features of the calendar include:
Note: This calendar draft matches the draft presented a year ago when the Board approved the current 2023–24 calendar.
“I appreciate the thought and intentionality that went into this,” said Trustee Trish Bode, applauding the work of LISD’s administration and the calendar development process. “You’ve kept the focus on students and academics while also balancing and considering so many other factors that impact our community – everything from vacation days and custodial agreements to ACC’s calendar for our dual-credit students.”
Through the feedback process, the district received a lot of responses related to the winter break, making note of this current year’s unusual distribution of days before and after the holidays because of how the days of the week aligned. Rolling that forward a year, in the 2024–25 calendar, that split of days nudges backward with staff returning from break on the first Monday of January – Jan. 6, 2025 – and students returning the next day.
🎬 7.A.3. Instructional Materials Adoption Process Overview
The Instructional Materials Selection Process, an annual review of the materials of a rotating selection of courses, continues on its adoption timeline.
After already beginning steps to collect input from teachers and staff and various committee groups, the process now turns to gathering feedback from the community at large. Members of our community have opportunities to provide feedback on these resources from Jan. 11–Feb. 16 through in-person viewing at Central Office and Cedar Park High School, or by viewing the materials virtually on the district website.
The district will host three Q&A Zoom meetings Feb. 7 – at 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. – with district curriculum experts that allow community members to explore the options, ask questions and provide feedback.
Recommendations on materials will come before the Board for approval later in the spring semester.
🎬 7.C.1. Child Nutrition Services Annual Report
Leander ISD partners with a food service management company – Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) – to run the Child Nutrition Services (CNS) department.
In their annual update, SFE detailed efforts to improve the student experience through things like nutrition education and a Roving Chef program, where the department’s head chef travels to elementary schools to offer hands-on cooking sessions. Programs like Flavor Fest help infuse student choice into the daily menu.
“The very first thing my fifth-grader tells me about when he gets in the car is his lunch – in great detail, every single part of it,” Trustee Francesca Romans shared of her child’s excitement with school meals. “Whatever fizzy drinks you’re putting in the elementary school cafeterias, they’re awesome.”
SFE returned as the district’s vendor for 2023–24 after a one-year absence. In that time, the CNS team has hired more than 70 cafeteria staff members. Currently, the department has a little more than 40 open positions compared to nearly 115 a year ago.
Meanwhile, SFE also reported on its staff empowerment efforts through employee appreciation, team building and training initiatives for staff.
🎬 7.C.2. Discussion and Consider Adoption of the 2024-2025 Budget Assumptions
Trustees approved the budget assumptions and parameters that will be used as a starting point in building the 2024–2025 budget, including:
The 2024–25 budget is scheduled for adoption on June 27, 2024.
Dec. 14, 2023: Budget Outlook for 2024–25 Fiscal Year
]]>During its Dec. 14 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included:
During the Spotlight on Learning, students and teachers from Running Brushy Middle School shared the awesomeness of its Inquiry Academy! Through this initiative, learners are empowered to have a voice, equipped with tools to develop and own their learning to eventually make a difference in our community.
Way to go, Cougars!
Special thanks to the Rouse HS announcements duo of John and Pierce for helping celebrate stand-out individuals and accomplishments around #1LISD.
The Board recognized the following:
🎬 9.A.1. Discussion of Elementary School #30 Attendance Zoning Recommendation
As part of the 10-year Long-Range Plan for Leander ISD, Elementary School #30 is scheduled to open in August 2024 to address the growth in the northern part of the district. At Thursday’s meeting, the Board received the recommended zoning scenario.
The process began Oct. 5, 2023, when the Board reviewed the charter that was developed by the Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC). After three rounds of community feedback and six community forums, the scenario was shared with the LRPC to evaluate to what degree the scenario met the parameters established in the charter.
The recommended scenario – Scenario 3 – helps to balance enrollment for the northern elementary schools for an extended period of time until the Early Childhood Center, Elementary School #31 and Elementary School #33 are built.
Note: Elementary School #32 is still scheduled to open in August 2027 as shown in the Long-Range Plan. This particular rezoning effort has focused on schools in the northern portion of the district, which is why ES32 was not listed in the charts.
“Rezoning students is one of the toughest decisions we face as Trustees because we know the impact this has on students and their family,” Board Vice President Anna Smith said. “There are many parameters to be balanced in putting a scenario together, and in this area of rapid growth, we’re focused on creating as much stability for families as possible.”
In the proposed Scenario 3, the following schools contain one or more impacted neighborhood code being rezoned to another school or having a neighborhood code rezoned to their school:
The elementary school zoning scenario will come back before the Board for approval at a future meeting. LISD administration will confirm final decisions about student transfer exceptions following the Board’s approval of zoning.
As LISD administration began work in preparing the 2024–25 fiscal year budget, Trustees received a presentation with budget pre-assumptions and an economic outlook.
LISD utilizes a planning calendar to provide a timeline for preparing the budget. The calendar shows important dates to be met in adopting the budget, adopting the tax rate, and to help ensure any legal date requirements are met.
“Recent accolades awarded to our Financial Services department reflect the district’s sound management of taxpayer funds,” said Board President Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Ph.D, referencing the Meritorious Budget Award and the Superior School FIRST Rating. “Starting now in looking at next year’s budget allows for clarity in the process and for Trustees and the community to follow along as the budget takes shape throughout the spring.”
Final approval of the budget assumptions will occur at a future meeting. The 2024–25 budget is scheduled for adoption on June 27, 2024.
🎬 7.E. Consider Approval of Construction Manager at Risk Selection for the Early Childhood Center
🎬 7.F. Consider Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price #2 for Running Brushy Middle School Modernization
🎬 7.G. Consider Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price #2 for Vista Ridge High School Modernization
Work continues on Bond 2023 projects.
In October, the Board approved the Bond Oversight Committee’s recommendation to build an Early Childhood Center on land LISD owns off of Halsey Drive in northern Leander and to consider other early childhood programs during the design phase. This project, aimed at relieving schools in the northern part of the district, uses $60 million of Bond 2023 repurposing funds. At Thursday’s meeting, the Board approved the construction manager – American Constructors.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, Trustees approved a second round of Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contracts for two of the campus modernizations projects, allowing for the release of Bond funds already allocated for these projects.
These GMPs will go toward the construction phase of these modernization projects. Construction work on these projects is anticipated to begin in Summer 2024.
GMP #2
Modernization of an existing facility involves the replacement of major building sub-systems including but not limited to roofing, elevators, air conditioning, lighting, electrical, plumbing, fire protection systems, built-in specialties, interior finishes, and furniture that is at the end of the expected service life.
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.
Leander ISD is pleased to welcome three new principals – Alexandra Peoples at Grandview Hills Elementary School; Emily Ulatoski at Plain Elementary School; and Michelle Jackson at Whitestone Elementary School – after the Board approved the recommendations at Thursday’s Board meeting.
]]>The Leander ISD Financial Services Department has earned the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) for the eighth time, continuing the department’s excellent track record of fiscal transparency.
“We have an outstanding Finance Department and Budget team here at Leander ISD,” Director of Budget and Compliance Jodi Levie said. “This award reflects the District’s commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility, transparency and effective business practices.”
This award recognizes the district’s commitment to fiscal transparency through review of a 200-page budget document created by the finance department and budget team. The document is complete with visual aides and pictures, ensuring that it is user-friendly and accessible for any community members who are interested.
Comments received this year included:
Congratulations to the Financial Services Department for another year of incredible work!
]]>Leander ISD earned an “A – Superior Achievement” rating under Texas’ School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for the 2022–23 school year. The FIRST rating ensures Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices, and receiving the highest rating available reflects the high standard LISD holds itself to.
“This rating is testament to the hardworking team we have in the Finance department, who share a commitment to ensuring LISD remains good stewards of taxpayer funds,” Leander ISD Chief Financial Officer Pete Pape said. “We also pride ourselves on doing this in a financially transparent manner.”
The FIRST rating measures everything from timely completion and accuracy of the annual financial report, to compliance with payment terms of all debt agreements and timely payments to government agencies, such as the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), and much more. In short, it evaluates a school district’s management of its financial resources.
In addition to the FIRST rating, LISD also maintains high credit ratings from bond-rating agencies. Leander ISD’s bonds are currently rated AA from S&P and from Fitch. LISD moved to an AA rating from Fitch in 2021, and this AA rating was re-certified by both agencies in Fall 2022.
]]>During its Aug. 24 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included:
Current and former New Hope High School students shared inspiring stories during the Spotlight on Learning, offering a great testimony to relationships and the pathway to success NHHS provides.
“I don’t want more schools like New Hope,” NHHS student Anastasia Abeyta said. “I need more schools like New Hope. We need more schools like New Hope.”
Special thanks to the CPHS News team for helping celebrate the hard work and exceptional achievement happening in #1LISD!
The Board recognized the following list of accomplishments:
🎬 7.C.6. Consider Approval of an Ordinance Adopting the 2023 Property Tax Rate
The Board approved a total property tax rate of $1.1087, representing a decrease of more than 16.5 cents from the previous year and creating significant tax relief for LISD property owners.
“I want to offer credit to my fellow Trustees and the work of previous Boards for setting the district on a path where we can continually lower the tax rate, as we’ve done now for seven straight years,” Board Vice President Anna Smith said. “LISD’s sound fiscal management and recent successful elections passed by our community have the district on a solid footing amidst funding uncertainties at the state level and larger economic trends.”
This tax rate is the combined total of $0.7787 on the maintenance and operations (M&O) side of the tax rate, which is used to fund the district’s day-to-day expenses, along with $0.3300 on the interest and sinking (I&S) side, which pays for bond debt.
During the latest legislative session, lawmakers increased the maximum compression rate, which essentially reduces the property tax rate on the M&O side. The district is proposing a tax rate that would save homeowners $820 compared to the previous year on an average value home in LISD.
As promised throughout the spring bond election, the I&S side of the tax rate will remain flat at $0.33. Due to rising property values the rate will generate additional funds to cover the annual I&S payment – including the 2023 Bond payment – and any remaining funds will be used to pay down the debt.
🎬 7.C.5. Discussion of House Bill 3 – Safety & Security
During the recently concluded legislative session, the passing of House Bill 3 requires school districts to place an armed security officer at each campus, among other requirements.
Due to a lack of funding and available personnel, LISD is pursuing a “good cause” exception, allowing the district time to implement an “alternative standard” to meet the requirements of the bill. The district’s alternative standard recommendation includes the formation of an LISD police department.
Funding and logistical challenges aside, an in-house police department would come with its own set of benefits. Existing practice has LISD with School Resource Officers (SROs) at each high school through partnerships with the Leander and Cedar Park police departments and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.
“With an in-house police department, it could be easier for us to hire these roles compared to the staffing challenges faced by surrounding law enforcement departments,” said Executive Director of Student Support Bryan Miller, relaying feedback they have received through community partners on LISD’s Safety & Security Committee. “It also would simplify internal communication and collaboration processes by having one system compared to the current model of working with three and sometimes four entities.”
To meet the requirements of HB3, the creation of an in-house police department would encompass 35 SROs for middle school and high school, along with 32 Single Role Marshals for LISD’s elementary and alternative schools.
This would happen over a nine- to 18-month process and would incorporate an application and inspection by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE); the purchase of uniforms, vehicles, weapons and other necessary equipment; and a series of training requirements.
Funding from HB3 would provide LISD with approximately $1.1 million. Preliminary budget estimates for the armed security officer requirement – not the only requirement in the bill – project an ongoing cost of $4.8 million, with an additional $2.8 million of start-up costs.
At the Sept. 7 meeting, the Board will consider a resolution for a good cause exception. More deliberation over what the district’s alternative standard will look like and planning for the possibility of an LISD police department will take place over the coming months. The district will publish additional information as it becomes available.
🎬 7.C.2. Consider Approval of Architects for the 2023 Building Program
🎬 7.C.3. Consider Approval of Construction Managers At Risk for the 2023 Building Program
Following the passing of all three propositions in the 2023 bond, LISD immediately started the vetting process for architects and construction contractors for projects included in the 2023 Building Program. The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process for architects and the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for construction contractors yielded the following recommendations, which were approved by the Board:
* actual construction costs would be included in a future bond
** approved for construction when funded
* actual construction costs would be included in a future bond
** approved for construction when funded
A new website to track the status of 2023 Bond projects and house all of this information in a single location will be published and shared with the community in the coming weeks.
🎬 7.B.1. Discussion of School Naming Charter Process for Elementary #30 and Other Facilities
Elementary School #30 broke ground in May 2023, and with its scheduled opening in August 2024 comes the opportunity for the Board to name the building.
Based on policy CW (LOCAL), the authority for naming schools lies with the Board of Trustees. The administration would like to utilize the following process:
“I remember when we named Carol Ann North Elementary,” said Board Vice President Anna Smith, a resident in the Bryson subdivision where the school is located. “The process that committee – made up of families whose kids would attend that school – led to a deep understanding of the importance of school naming, and it produced a school name recommendation with buy-in from those residents.”
Board members expressed interest in a charter to name ES30 and a separate charter to name district facilities included in the 2023 Bond. This topic will go back before the Board for review at the Sept. 7 meeting.
Each year, representatives from Population and Survey Analysts (PASA) present enrollment projections to the Board through three growth scenarios: low, moderate and high. Before PASA presents their 2023 findings later this fall, this meeting provided the opportunity to dig into the work and methodology that goes into developing these yearly enrollment projections.
The process includes a host of complex research and analysis, including:
These projections inform the work of the Long-Range Planning Committee for Leander ISD, which is focused on student learning while maximizing resources in the years ahead.
“As a member of the LRPC, this is vital data to support the committee’s work,” Trustee Trish Bode said. “Getting on the same page of the methodology that goes into PASA’s yearly demographic projections will equip the LRPC and the Board for critical discussions on maximizing resources in the upcoming years.”
PASA will return in October to present the latest demographic data for the district.
🎬 7.C.4. Consider Approval of Texas Education Agency Certification Waiver for Teachers
Throughout Texas and the nation, there is a shortage of qualified teachers, and Leander ISD is no exception. Despite increased recruiting efforts, LISD continues to struggle to find highly qualified, certified teachers for many positions.
Primary areas of critical need include mathematics, science and elementary.
At Thursday’s meeting, the Board approved a Certification Waiver for Teachers, a waiver the Texas Education Code has in place to allow an individual to serve as a teacher without the necessary certification requirements for the assigned position for a term of one to three years. The waiver allows the Human Resources department to employ candidates deemed qualified based on their education and/or experience to serve as a teacher while working toward their certification requirements. Note: A waiver is not permissible for special education or bilingual positions.
“In Leander ISD, we’re committed to bringing in the highest quality teachers we can find for our students,” Board Secretary Christine Mauer said. “This waiver gives our HR department another option in doing that.”
The district would provide teachers brought in through this waiver with a variety of support as a first-year teacher to ensure high-quality classroom instruction.
Teachers hired under this waiver will have the following expectations:
🎬 7.A.1. Update on Professional Learning
As a learning institution, Leander ISD’s strong commitment to continuous improvement is apparent when looking at the students who enter our schools each day. That same philosophy of continuous improvement extends to the teachers and staff of the district – how can we get better each and every day?
The Instruction and Professional Learning and Curriculum departments played pivotal roles in driving this Professional Learning work, most heavily concentrated over the summer and through the weeks immediately preceding the start of the school year.
Professional learning experiences and programs sought to provide LISD staff with choice, voice and autonomy, offering varied modes of instruction along with in-district and national presenters. In total, more than LISD staff earned more than 12,000 hours of continuing professional education. This included targeted learning opportunities in reading and math to dig deeper into LISD’s initiatives in those two subjects.
The district is also piloting a Learning Leaders program aimed at maximizing opportunities for teachers to learn from teachers and leveraging the expertise of our teaching staff. There are 31 LISD master teachers in its first year with more than 100 hours of peer-to-peer learning in the three weeks leading into the school year.
“I get so excited seeing investment in leadership roles for teachers who want to stay in the classroom,” Trustee Trish Bode said. “I love how we continue to look for ways to support teachers’ leadership journey right where they are at.”
This year, Leander ISD welcomed 930 new employees of which 680 are campus-based. That includes 300 new-to-profession teachers in the larger pool of 500 new teachers across the district. During their first days, new employees are exposed to the culture of the district and of their home campus. A new experience of “Learning Environment Day” complemented curriculum orientation, along with activities designed for returning staff, like Convocation and Professional Learning Community (PLC) days, among others.
During its Aug. 10 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included:
🎬 6.C.3. Discussion of an Ordinance Adopting the 2023 Property Tax Rate
The Board reviewed a proposed total property tax rate of $1.1087, which would represent a decrease of more than 16.5 cents from the previous year and create significant tax relief for LISD property owners.
This tax rate is the combined total of $0.7787 on the maintenance and operations (M&O) side of the tax rate, which is used to fund the district’s day-to-day expenses, along with $0.3300 on the interest and sinking (I&S) side, which pays for bond debt.
During the latest legislative session, lawmakers increased the maximum compression rate, which essentially reduces the property tax rate on the M&O side. The district is proposing a tax rate that would save homeowners $820 compared to the previous year on an average value home in LISD.
“This proposed tax rate reflects seven consecutive years of lowering the overall tax rate,” Trustee Trish Bode said. “I’m thankful for the community’s trust and coordination with the board to allow us the opportunity to address needed revenue through recent elections, and for the Board’s work to continue improving our fiscal outlook while also offering relief to the taxpayers of our community.”
Recent legislation also provides the opportunity for additional tax relief through a proposal to increase the state’s homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000. This is subject to voter approval in November 2023.
🎬 6.C.2. Consider Approval of Student Capacity for Elementary School Design
Following a presentation on the options related to the student capacity of future elementary school design, the Board approved keeping the standard design at 800 students.
Continued growth in LISD – especially at the elementary level – has generated many discussions around the ideal size for elementary school buildings. This led the district to consider a variety of options, including the current 800-student design, a 1,000-student design, or a 1,000-student core design intended for 800 students.
Feedback was collected from LISD principals and reviewed by the Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC), which then voted on a preference. These groups considered a variety of factors, including impacts to the school’s functional capacity, what programs the campus could offer, potential need for portables, being fiscally responsible and larger impacts to the district’s attendance zoning.
Ultimately, these groups decided the 800-student design was best for student learning while remaining fiscally responsible.
“When you look at the feedback, it’s nice to see the alignment with the work Trustees have done relating to the Board Vision and the Student Profile,” said Board President Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Ph.D. “I think that a larger school has a significant impact on the student experience with less opportunities for students. At 800 students, that aligns with the student experience we’re striving for as a Board.”
This will have an immediate impact on Elementary School 31, projected to open in Fall 2025, which is currently in its project’s design phase.
🎬 6.A.1. Consider Approval of 2023-2024 Student Code of Conduct
After the conclusion of this spring’s legislative session, the Board approved revisions to the Student Code of Conduct (SCOC) for the upcoming school year to ensure compliance with new state laws.
Other changes reflected recommended language updates from the Texas Association of School Board’s (TASB) Model Student Code of Conduct, technology trends to update language, or experiences in applying the code.
One of the most significant changes relates to e-cigarettes. As a result of House Bill 114, school districts are required to place a student in possession of an e-cigarette in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). In Leander ISD, the DAEP is the Leander Extended Opportunity (LEO) Center. After collaborating with the LEO Center principal, there will be a separate room created for these short-term placements.The district also plans to proactively meet with the student and parents to educate them of the consequences.
To see the revised SCOC and a complete list of changes made, refer to the following documents:
The Board approved the Bond Oversight Committee’s recommendation to transfer $125,000 of bond project savings from the 2017 Bond to purchase projector replacements.
The 2021 Bond included funds for interactive panels to replace projectors in all classrooms. The funds to install those interactive panels were included in the 2023 Bond, which passed in May. Before those new panels can be installed, these newly transferred funds from bond project savings will service repairs to existing projectors.
The Informational Technology (IT) department plans to start deployment of the interactive flat panel project in Spring 2024.
The Bond Oversight Committee is a committee of 25 community members who oversee authorized bond dollars and reviews the status of capital projects, bond expenditures and project schedules.
Superintendent Bruce Gearing extended sympathies to those in the Bexley apartment complex in Cedar Park who were affected by the fire off of FM 1431 and Parmer Road earlier this week.
“To the families and staff who were impacted, we are thinking of you and working with campuses to help out in any way we can,” Gearing said. “If you know of anyone in our community who needs assistance, please reach out. We will do our best to connect emergency resources to those in need.”
Our schools immediately began making contact with their families to see how best they could help those in need. In total, more than 75 LISD families, along with two employees, live in this apartment complex. Ten were in affected buildings and four experienced a total loss.
Gearing expressed gratitude to the Red Cross, Hill Country Bible Church, Hill Country Community Ministries and the PTA Clothes Closet who all stepped up to support families through this challenging time. He also acknowledged the incredible work of the Cedar Park Fire Department, Cedar Park Police Department, the 20 other agencies who responded in support, along with the Cedar Park mayor and city manager who all did an incredible job of mitigating the damage of this fire.
The safety and security of our students and staff remains the top priority in Leander ISD. During the recently concluded legislative session, the passing of House Bill 3 requires school districts to place an armed security officer at each campus, among other requirements.
In response, district officials added this topic to the agenda of a July meeting with our Safety & Security Committee to collect feedback from our law enforcement and first-responder partners. That feedback, along with internal implementation discussions, has led to LISD pursuing a “good cause” exception due to lack of funding and availability of personnel.
“We will of course come into compliance as soon as possible,” Gearing said, “and so we’ll be working diligently to develop an alternative plan over the next several months.”
In the interim, LISD will continue with the existing practice of School Resource Officers at each of our high schools through our partnerships with the Leander and Cedar Park police departments and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. The district will also explore options to place armed security officers at middle schools as well.
River Ridge Elementary School gained a new leader after Sally Sosa, Ph.D., was approved by the Leander ISD Board of Trustees at Thursday’s Board meeting.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sally Sosa as the new principal of River Ridge Elementary,” said Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. “Her impressive leadership background and instructional knowledge will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the Rattler community. We are confident that Dr. Sosa’s passion for systems and dedication to cultivating strong relationships with both staff and families will continue to foster a positive and nurturing learning environment for all of our students.”
]]>During its June 15 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included:
We’re closing out end-of-year celebrations with achievements from our Career & Technical Education programs, specifically Journalism, along with medalists in UIL Academics, the Special Olympics Summer Games, Destination Imagination and Math Pentathlon.
🎬 5.A. Public Hearing on the 2023-24 Budget and Proposed Tax Rate
🎬 9.C.3. Consider Adoption of the 2023-2024 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 2023–2024.
Features of the $496.6 million budget include:
“We’re in a very solid fiscal position because of the planning by the district’s administrative team and this Board’s decision to not rely on proposed bills while the state legislature was in session this spring,” Board President Trish Bode said. “I know my frustration with the state’s current inaction in addressing changes to public school funding is shared among my fellow Trustees. While LISD remains competitive with the school districts in our surrounding area, our programs and operations will suffer without being fully funded.”
Budgets for the General, Child Nutrition, and Debt Service Funds are included in the official district budget.
To fund this budget, the tax rate is projected to be $1.2644, a $0.0102 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. This decrease does not account for potential actions by the state during special legislative sessions.
As promised throughout the spring bond election, the Interest & Sinking (I&S) portion of the tax rate will remain flat at $0.33. The district will use these I&S funds to pay off debt, including using $35.7 million toward defeasance or refunding of issued debt to continue the district’s trend of paying off debt ahead of schedule. In fact, since 2015, LISD has saved more than $625 million by paying off debt early.
🎬 9.A.1. Discussion of LISD Reading Intervention Redesign
Leander ISD plans to use a redesign of reading intervention strategies to optimize student outcomes in reading and minimize the loss of core instructional time. In achieving these goals, this redesign is committed to enhancing and protecting student services that are provided in addition to the standard grade-level curriculum and teaching (known as Tier 1 classroom instruction).
The redesign’s action plan includes boosts to professional learning and resources for staff. It also includes a change to staff structures, where the current titles of Supplemental Reading Program teachers and Dyslexia teachers will be merged into a new, combined Reading Specialist title. This move is intended to build capacity for student support, while maintaining the strong services our families have come to expect.
“By moving these positions under the ‘Reading Specialist’ umbrella, this might give some pause or have them think that we’re taking something away, but that’s not the case,” Trustee Christine Mauer said. “This title change comes with continued cross-training among teachers so more can provide these specialized services.”
Early intervention is key. Rolled out in phases, the first year will place added emphasis on kindergarten and 1st grade. Specifics outlined in this partnership between the Curriculum and Intervention teams for kindergarten and 1st grade include:
🎬 9.C.1. Discussion of School Naming Process for Elementary #30
Elementary School #30 broke ground in May 2023, and with its scheduled opening in August 2024 comes the opportunity for the Board to name the building.
Based on policy CW (Local), the authority for naming schools lies with the Board of Trustees. The administration outlined next steps, which includes bringing forward a charter at a future meeting to further define the process for naming ES30, along with the potential of naming other facilities.
The policy currently outlines five naming criteria:
Capturing community voice will remain central to the school naming process, which is projected to conclude toward the end of the fall semester.
“Through the last naming process of Carol Ann North Elementary, this Board prioritized a transparent process that incorporated our community’s input,” Board Secretary Anna Smith said. “The community truly had a voice in the process, and I look forward to continuing in the same fashion for future namings.”
🎬 9.A.2. Consider Approval of Instructional Materials Selection World Languages Update
The Board approved the recommendations for the purchasing of new instructional materials for two World Languages courses:
For American Sign Language, the selection includes a fully digital platform alongside an updated version of the current hard-copy version for both teachers and students. And for the Chinese courses, this selection will cover a digital platform, with hard-copy sets available for students as needed.
Earlier this spring, the Board approved four other instructional material recommendations. For these World Languages courses, the vendor Request for Proposal process shifted the timeline from that of the other courses.
As with the other courses involved in this year’s process, these World Languages courses followed the same steps over a series of months that involved LISD teachers working hand-in-hand with district administrators throughout the research and selection process. Input and feedback was then gathered from staff, parents, students, and community members through virtual and in-person opportunities earlier this spring.
🎬 11.A. Consider Reorganization of the Board of Trustees
As part of its annual process to review and vote on its leadership positions, the Board named its officers.
During its May 11 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included:
Showcasing student voice and choice, River Ridge Elementary shared their focus on how to bring the graduate profile to life with personal and academic goals. Students learned to accept that failure is a part of the process.
“Setting goals helps me understand progress and areas I need to get better at,” a River Ridge student said.
Thank you to Danielson Middle School students for helping celebrate the hard work and exceptional achievement happening in #1LISD!
🎬 10.C.3. Discussion of 2023-24 Total Compensation Recommendations
LISD remains committed to attracting, growing and retaining top-notch employees. In alignment with this goal, the district presented a compensation plan with pay raises for every staff member in the 2023–24 budget.
Based on the current budget forecast, LISD administration recommended an across-the-board 3% increase. Under this 3-percent increase at midpoint, every teacher would receive an additional $1,789. The starting salary for teachers would rise to $55,059.
Another component for the Board to consider is a new longevity pay proposal to reward employees for years of service with LISD. After every 5-year milestone completed, starting in Year 5 and continuing through Year 35, an employee would receive a $4,000 incentive on top of their base pay for that year.
“I think it’s important we do what’s right for our teachers,” Trustee Sade Fashokun said. “Our Board has heard feedback from teachers underscoring the importance of rewarding their years of service to this district, especially as starting pay rises.”
Additional highlights of the compensation plan include:
The district also recommended including language in the compensation plan to allow for one-time payment options should certain parameters be met, along with language to allow for a further increase to the base pay should the legislature provide enough funding to do so.
Note: Increases to Special Education stipends and supplemental pay increases were approved at the March 9 meeting.
Superintendent Bruce Gearing will hold staff listening sessions throughout the week of May 15 to hear directly from LISD employees.
In addition to the district-recommended 3% increase, included in the presentation were summaries for what a 2% and 5% increase would look like. The Board is scheduled to take action on the full compensation plan and continue budget deliberations at the May 25 meeting.
🎬 10.C.4. Discussion of 2023 Certified Estimated Property Values and Recapture
Following estimates received by Williamson and Travis counties, the district’s total overall estimated freeze-adjusted property value is projected to increase by 9.83% compared to last year’s certified net freeze-adjusted taxable value.
It’s important to note that the increase in Maintenance & Operations (M&O) property tax collections is offset by the decrease in state funding and/or increase in the district’s recapture payment to the state. LISD’s M&O funding does not increase, and as such the district does not have any increase in funding to use toward its day-to-day expenses, such as employee salaries.
Instead, the current estimates with 9.83% property value growth would result in the recapture payment increasing by $9.3 million compared to 2022–23 to a total of more than $58 million for 2023–24 (under current law). Recapture represents money a school district sends back to the state from money generated from the M&O portion of the tax rate that is above the amount needed to fund the Tier 1 Entitlement. It also includes excess revenues generated on copper pennies above the yield.
“An estimated amount of almost $300 million of Leander ISD taxpayer money is being paid to the state in recapture over the next 4 years,” Board President Trish Bode said. “This was a timely update for the Board as we are considering compensation and building the budget for next year.”
In contrast, the rise in property values results in additional tax collections from the Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate. All monies raised by the I&S tax rate stay in LISD and are not subject to recapture. This provides additional capacity for future debt service retirement.
Taxpayers have until May 15 to protest their appraisals, and the final certifications are due to taxing entities by July 25.
🎬 10.B.1. Discussion of Secondary Schools Attendance Zoning Recommendations
LISD administration recommended Scenario 2 in the 2024–25 Middle School and High School Attendance Rezoning and provided an overview of the steps taken throughout the past five months of moving through this process.
This rezoning represents the first step in the 10-year Long Range Plan. The process began Dec. 8, 2022, when the Board approved the Attendance Zoning for Secondary School Relief Charter. Unlike attendance zonings of the past that often centered on the opening of a new school at the respective level, this rezoning sought to accomplish the following two main objectives:
Community engagement and feedback anchored the process through each step.
“I’ve been in this district for a while, and I’ve seen a lot of rezoning. And what I haven’t seen is this level of asking people what they want and what they need,” Trustee Francesca Romans said. “I saw the immense amount of work that goes into this, and I appreciate everything LISD did to talk with the community to make sure they were aware of what was happening.”
One particular area showcasing the district’s response to feedback can be seen in the recommendation to phase in changes, allowing 8th-graders at the middle school level and 11th- and 12th-graders at the high school level to remain at their current campus. This phase-in would lead to a more gradual increase to schools seeing a forecasted uptick in enrollment as a result of Scenario 2.
Administration will confirm final decisions about student transfer exceptions and secondary athletic eligibility after the Board adopts the new secondary attendance zones on June 8.
🎬 10.A.3. Discussion of Leander ISD Mathematics Initiative
After analyzing academic achievement data from multiple sources, evidence demonstrates that reading achievement in LISD has returned to “at or near” pre-pandemic levels while mathematics achievement has not.
Unsatisfied with this reality, the district created a prototype of additional math support and tested it out at four campuses in this 2022–23 school year. Showing promising results, LISD now plans to launch the LISD Mathematics Initiative districtwide, addressing this challenge with a two-pronged approach:
The base level Tier 1 includes the systemwide professional learning and support. The higher tiers build on that with targeted campus support seen at Tier 2 and embedded support at Tier 3.
“I am so impressed with this initiative,” Trustee Christine Mauer said. “This has me so excited, the fact that we have the MAP data and can see where the growth is, we can see the spots that need help. We’re sending in math curriculum specialists to work directly with teachers, using our district curriculum and guiding documents as the foundation of that support.”
The first year of this initiative focuses on training and support in math for elementary
Grades 2–5, Grade 6 Mathematics, and Algebra I. Costs associated with this initiative – including nine new math curriculum specialists, five new co-teachers and extra-duty pay for Teacher Learning Leaders – will be funded utilizing federal funding from Title II and ESSER.
🎬 10.C.5. Consider Approval of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Architectural/Engineering Services for 2023 Building Program
🎬 10.C.6. Consider Approval of Selection of Construction Delivery Method for 2023 Building Program
Following the passing of all three propositions in the 2023 bond – according to unofficial results from the Saturday, May 6 election – the Board approved two steps Thursday night that allow the district to start the vetting process for architects, engineers and construction contractors for projects included in the 2023 Building Program.
Because no funds are committed, nor contracts signed with this initial step, they are permissible to happen before the Board is scheduled to canvass the vote and make results official at the May 16 special meeting.
Outlined projects in the 2023 Building Program include the following new facilities:
* actual construction costs would be included in a future bond
The 2023 Building Program also includes the following additions and renovations to existing facilities:
* actual construction costs would be included in a future bond
The district anticipates bringing back recommendations at the Aug. 10 meeting for additional Board action. Visit the Bond 2023 Detailed Project Notes document for full descriptions about each of the projects listed above and all of the items included in the 2023 bond election.
🎬 10.A.2. Discussion of Leander ISD Programs
Leander ISD provides a variety of programs for students in Prekindergarten through 12th grade. Current programs available in Leander ISD include unique campus-based programs, Career and Technical Education programs, and schoolwide programs.
In addition to programs, the district provides a wide range of course offerings available to students, many of which can be found in the high school and middle school course catalogs.
Differing from the programs described above, LISD also offers three Schools of Choice options:
LISD defines a School of Choice as a public school offering specialized educational opportunities that utilize a non-conventional approach designed to meet diverse needs and interests of students throughout the LISD community. A School of Choice becomes a student’s home campus.
🎬 10.A.1. 2022-2023 School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Annual Report
Subcommittee members of the Student Health Advisory Committee made recommendations to the Board regarding:
The Board will review the recommendations and then direct district administration if any action should be taken. Details of the recommendations can be found in the SHAC presentation.
🎬 10.C.2. Consider Approval of Food Service Management Contract
The Board approved the district’s recommendation to bring back Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) as its food service provider. This recommendation comes after a formal Request for Proposal process in which a district committee reviewed submissions from three food service management companies, along with the approval of SFE by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The term of the agreement will last one year with 4 one-year extensions optional.
Additional information will be provided to current Child Nutrition Services (CNS) employees about the transition from Sodexo to SFE.
Leander ISD is pleased to announce Darla Smith as the Wiley Middle School Principal after the Board approved the recommendation at Thursday’s Board meeting.
“Darla is a focused leader who values and understands that relationships coupled with consistent and high expectations drive positive school culture,” Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D., said. “We look forward to seeing her journey continue with LISD and in the Rouse feeder pattern.”
]]>During its April 13 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included:
We kicked off our LISD Board meeting with students and staff from Faubion Elementary during Spotlight On Learning. They brought to light their student ambassadors, the voice and choice in student clubs, as well as their inquiry-based learning in Exploratorium.
It was great to see Panther Pride on display!
🎬 8.C.1. Discussion of Bond Oversight Committee Process and Membership
The Board received a review of process and membership of the Bond Oversight Committee (BOC). In the event the district passes a bond – most recently Prop B in 2021 that included technology, and then before that in 2017 and 2007 – those newly authorized dollars are then subject to oversight by the BOC. This committee reviews the status of capital projects, bond expenditures, project schedules and the timelines of bond projects. The committee also evaluates any proposed changes to the scheduled project scope of work to the voter-approved bond program and communicates with the Board of Trustees as necessary.
One recent example of the re-allocating of authorized bond funds is with Elementary School 30. At the elementary level, the 2017 bond outlined funds for three elementary schools: Larkspur Elementary, Tarvin Elementary and North Elementary – the 27th, 28th and 29th elementary schools, respectively. Because of available bond savings in the 2017 and 2007 bonds – combined with the sustained enrollment growth in the northern part of the district – the BOC brought to the Board in June 2022 the recommendation to use some of that money to build ES30, scheduled to open in Fall 2024 near Devine Lake Park near the intersection of Bagdad Road and San Gabriel Parkway in Leander.
Committee Chair Jon Lux described the level of detail the BOC goes through in order to make prudent choices with taxpayer money, including analyzing how things are priced, how the district decides a supplier or contract, and ensuring the bidding process is done in accordance with the district’s procedures.
“We’re asking all of the same questions you would ask if you were going to buy a car or a house,” Lux said. “‘Are you going through all of the different options? Have you looked at everything?’ We look at it as our own money.”
Before serving as a member of the Board, Trustee Francesca Romans served on the Bond Oversight Committee and shared this unique perspective of having that first-hand experience.
“That committee goes over everything in great detail, looking at charts showing the status of current projects down to the dollar of what was being spent and how long the project was taking. We had access to everything – from the Facilities and the Finance departments – to see what was going on,” Romans said. “And this provided a community voice in the process.”
The committee is made up of residents within the district who are not employed and do not have a contract with the district.
On the topic of bond savings, it’s important to note that these are authorized dollars from previous bond elections, but they are not sold bonds, meaning that they are not incurring interest or fees. The district has a practice of not selling bonds until funds are needed for a particular project.
🎬 8.C.2. 2023-2024 Budget Development Update
🎬 8.C.3. Consider Approval of the Amendments to the 2023-2024 Budget Assumptions and Parameter
Following an in-depth update of the budget development process underway, Trustees approved amended budget assumptions and parameters as the district continues to build the 2023–2024 budget.
Legislative changes to how schools are funded coming out of the 88th session could have a direct impact on this work-in-progress budget. For a full list of the amended changes, please see the posted attachment.
In a preview of recruitment and retention efforts being built into the 2023–24 budget – to be presented in full at the May 11 meeting – the district is exploring longevity pay, which would reward employees for years of service with LISD. The district is also considering an employer contribution match program for certain supplemental retirement plans.
“Longevity is a compensation approach each Trustee has talked about a lot,” Board President Trish Bode said. “We’re excited to continue this discussion on how to reward the outstanding staff we have in the district who make the choice each year to stay with LISD.”
🎬 8.A.1. Consider Approval of Instructional Materials
The Board approved the recommendations for the purchasing of new instructional materials for the following courses:
This came after a months-long process that involved LISD teachers working hand-in-hand with district administrators throughout the research and selection process. Input and feedback was then gathered from staff, parents, students, and community members through virtual and in-person opportunities earlier this spring.
“The number of people the district had look at this – 70 District-wide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC) members, having it available on the website for a review period with more than 300 views, and 35 members from the Community Curriculum Advisory Committee (CCAC), which included students – shows me that this was a transparent process that truly sought feedback from our community,” Trustee Christine Mauer said. “And all of that was on top of the collaboration between district administrators and the teachers who actually teach these classes to narrow down the selection and bring forward a recommendation.”
Two additional courses – American Sign Language I–IV and Chinese I–IV – are also going through this selection process for 2023–24 and will be brought before the Board at a future 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.
🎬 6.A. Consider Approval of 2023-2024 Hazardous Routes
As part of the consent agenda, the Board approved the district recommendations for Hazardous Routes for 2023–24.
After completing its yearly evaluation of bus routes, the recommendations include removing the bus service at the middle school and high school level for one neighborhood code – NBCD 3985 in the Maya Vista subdivision. This neighborhood – within the “Not Eligible for Transportation Zone,” or NETZone, for families living closer than 2 miles to the school – had previously received a bus route due to a “hazardous” designation. In re-evaluating the route this year, the addition of a neighboring subdivision created a new walk path to the campus. As a result, it no longer meets the “hazardous” threshold established in the rating matrix.
Additional information on this topic was included in the March 23 edition of Board Briefs.
]]>During its Jan. 26 meeting, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees agenda included:
Deer Creek ES students did an excellent job sharing how the Universal Design for Learning approach gives them choice in how they demonstrate their learning in class. Go, Colts!
The district celebrated the Trustees for their dedication to LISD and its students as part of School Board Recognition Month.
Following a video of appreciation, Trustees took turns sharing their experiences of visiting campuses around the district and seeing firsthand the amazing things happening in #1LISD.
During its consent agenda, Trustees approved the 2023–24 academic calendar, closing out a monthslong process of community feedback and consideration of multiple options.
Key features of the calendar include:
When constructing the 2023–24 academic calendar, specific focus was placed on the winter break, given the dates of when holidays occur during this timespan. In the approved version of the calendar, the last day of the fall semester would be Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, and students would return for the spring semester Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, with staff returning one day sooner on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. This version aligns with a feedback-supported guideline of two full weeks for winter break and starting the break on a Monday, resulting in three complete weekends.
To put together the 2023–24 academic calendar, the district conducted community surveys, consulted with principals and held community listening sessions in December.
Through this calendar-adoption process, the district also shared a draft of the 2024–25 academic calendar, which would be formally approved at a future meeting.
🎬 8.C.1. Discuss Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee (CFAC) Recommendations
After months of work evaluating the district’s facilities, equipment, renovations, technology and security needs, the Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee (CFAC) put forth recommendations of a May 2023 bond in the range of $563.5–601 million, a range of amounts below the threshold of needing to raise the tax rate.
CFAC, a group made up of more than 100 community members when totaling members on the steering committee and the six subcommittees, was tasked with developing a three- to five-year facility plan to meet the needs of our growing school district in conjunction with the work conducted to create the district’s Long-Range Plan.
The recommendations are focused on:
The presentation (Pages 9–19) has an itemized list of projects. Highlights from the CFAC recommendation include:
“If the board decides to move forward with a bond measure and it passes, it’s not money in our pocket,” said Trustee Christine Mauer, describing the mechanics of bonds and school finance. “It just gives us the ability to borrow. I think that’s an important thing for the community to understand. It gives us the ability to do business.
“Thank you so much to our CFAC volunteers for all of your hard work,” Mauer added. “Thank you for your leadership in the community and all of your time and effort. I know that this was a daunting task.”
The last day for the Board to call for a May 2023 election is Feb. 17. During the meeting, the Board indicated they would likely schedule a special meeting for Feb. 2 to continue discussion on how to integrate CFAC’s recommendations into the work of the Long-Range Plan.
🎬 8.A.1. Equitable Access Formative Review
Each month, LISD will present a formative review of one goal within the Strategic Plan and the District Improvement Plan. In this meeting, district administrators presented the Equitable Access goal, to ensure opportunities by eliminating barriers for each and every student.
Three action steps since joining the district in January 2022:
In digging into the equity access data, campus-level data can be too specific, and at the district level, certain student groups can get lost. As a result, analyzing this data by feeder pattern – a high school and the middle schools, elementary schools and early childhood programs that flow into it – stood out as the best approach.
As the data helps identify potential barriers, the next step is to address and work within our system to eliminate it and provide more opportunities. One example to help illustrate these steps in action was how the district brought foundational high school level courses into the middle school level, opening up their elective options and possibilities going into high school. Another example involved analyzing which courses were required or optional to allow for more flexibility.
Looking forward, Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion DeWayne Street led the efforts to seat a 25-member advisory DEI committee, which began meeting this month.
“I really appreciate the space that you created for that committee,” said Board Vice President Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Ph.D. “There are a lot of historically marginalized parents and children, and sometimes they don’t always want to participate because they’re afraid to participate. So in being aware of that, it’s important that we’re creating a space where they can join the conversation without that fear.”
The Board adopted a resolution to use $27 million of excess tax collections from the Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate toward the defeasance of existing bonds. A defeasance is the early repayment of debt, which saves interest costs on those outstanding bonds.
The resolution falls in line with LISD’s efforts for the past few years, under the Board’s leadership, to restructure debt away from Capital Appreciation Bonds (CABs). That goal – reducing CAB debt to 25 percent by 2025 – remains on track.
“When you look at this in the larger picture of debt for the district, with the total principal and interest of $2.5 billion over the next 30 years, that number assumes we’re not doing anything to pay that off early,” Trustee Sade Fashokun said. “Instead, actions like those tonight and over the past few years show that we, as a Board, are aggressively paying down this debt and saving on interest.”
By targeting Capital Appreciation Bonds (CABs) from 2014, the district eliminates $30.5 million in future debt service. It also supports future bond capacity for when the district needs to take on new bonds.
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