In two separate votes during a special meeting Dec. 17, the Leander ISD board of trustees voted against closing Steiner Ranch Elementary in the 2026-27 school year but will move forward with consolidating Faubion Elementary with Westside Elementary. 

The board first unanimously voted to direct administration to bring back a comprehensive districtwide alignment plan for the Vandegrift High School feeder pattern, which includes Steiner Ranch and other campuses located in the southern part of the district facing declining enrollment. The board later voted 5-2 to consolidate Faubion, with trustees Paul Gauthier and Trish Bode casting the dissenting votes.

What you need to know: The alignment plan will consider expanding grade span models that integrate elementary and middle grades, and provide consolidation scenarios for the Vandegrift feeder pattern in 2027-28. Following the vote to consolidate Faubion, administration could consider repurposing the campus for New Hope High School or other uses. 

Next steps: District staff will prepare a rezoning and restaffing plan for Faubion, and develop a task force to support the transition plan. 

The city of Cedar Park expects to complete the design and permitting process for a pedestrian bridge over South Bell Boulevard/US 183 by summer, with construction to be completed by the end of 2027. The bridge will connect Lakeline Park to the Twin Lakes Family YMCA campus.

What they're saying: “These improvements serve multiple community needs, offering residents more opportunities to enjoy nature, expanding alternative mobility options for getting around the city without a vehicle and strengthening access to Cedar Park’s and the region’s growing trail systems,” said Daniel Sousa, assistant director of communications and engagement for the city of Cedar Park. “Overall, the project supports recreation, mobility and connectivity, thereby enhancing the outdoor experience for both residents and visitors.”

Texans now have a new database to track the results of local bond propositions and tax rate elections, or TREs, in their communities and across the state.

The details: Texas’ Local Government Bond, Tax, and Project Transparency Database was unveiled after state lawmakers passed House Bill 103 this spring. The new law requires the comptroller to compile information about all bonds, tax rate elections and maintenance tax rate changes proposed by local governments in an election, including:

• Ballot language for all tax-related proposals
• How each tax measure would impact the local tax rate or debt service
• The difference between the adopted tax rate and voter-approval tax rate, if applicable
• The entity’s tax rate for the prior year and the tax rate following the election
• A list of projects funded by each tax measure
• The results of each election, including votes for and against a measure