Year after year, Boerne ISD students continue to perform at higher testing percentages when compared to regional and statewide numbers. On Jan. 20, the board of trustees reviewed the annual report for the 2024-25 school year, highlighting student preparedness, graduation rates and test scores.

The details: Chief Instructional Officer Larissa Flores said attendance and graduation rates are up, with a four-year graduation rate of 98.4%

When comparing test scores from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, Boerne ISD students in 2024-25 held similar scores to students in 2023-24.

While there was a 1% reduction in students who “meet” STAAR test results, the district continues to perform around 15% better than the state average in all categories.

One state metric—college, career and military readiness, or CCMR—indicated student preparedness post graduation. Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, around 5% more Boerne ISD students were identified as prepared, bringing the total percentage up to 95%. The regional percentage was 72%, while the state percentage was 82%.

A new locally owned, kid-focused boutique and gift shop has set up a new location on Main Street in Boerne.

Two-minute impact: The Sharing Kind, situated at 248 N. Main St., officially opened its doors on Nov. 22 after a grand opening ceremony.

“How could I have possibly guessed 11 years ago when we moved to Texas that I would be doing this?” local owner Beverly Dodd said in a Nov. 16 Facebook post.

Also of note: The boutique specializes in children’s, tween and teen clothing, accessories and more. There’s also a hat bar inside the business as well.

“I might know a thing or two about tweens, having a daughter of my own, and many granddaughters, four of which are currently tweens,” Dodd said.

Put in perspective: Additionally, another new boutique and wellness spa called Elara Aesthetics & Boutique is scheduled to open close to downtown along River Road on Jan. 27, according to previous reporting from Community Impact.

• 248 N. Main St., Boerne

A winter storm is expected to bring potential freezing rain to the San Antonio area this weekend as local officials urge residents to begin taking precautions for the event.

What residents should know: The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for all areas just north of Bexar County on Jan. 24-25 for the potential of significant ice accretion from freezing rain and sleet.

This includes all of Kendall and Comal counties and the cities of New Braunfels, Boerne, Bulverde and Spring Branch, according to the watch.

Although Bexar County and San Antonio are not under the winter storm watch, the National Weather Service said freezing rain will still be possible Saturday night into Sunday in the Alamo City.

What is there to do? The National Weather Service urges residents to check in on elderly neighbors and family, and to dress in layers if outdoor travel is necessary.

A far-reaching winter storm is expected to bring below-freezing temperatures, wintry precipitation and “dangerous ice” to Texas beginning Jan. 23, according to the National Weather Service. As residents brace for days of potentially hazardous conditions, state leaders said Jan. 22 that the Texas power grid “has never been stronger” and will withstand the storm.

What's happening: Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 134 of Texas’ 254 counties, telling reporters that the northern two-thirds of the state—from San Antonio to the Panhandle—will be impacted by the storm.

Officials said they do not expect a repeat of the widespread power outages that occurred during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, emphasizing that changes have been made in recent years to harden the grid against extreme weather. The governor said some Texans could see “local, isolated” outages due to fallen tree branches or ice on power lines.

"The severity of it is not quite as great... as Winter Storm Uri," Abbott said. "That said, people would be making a mistake if they don't take it serious."