Starting in 2026-27, Leander ISD campuses that have fewer than 400 or 500 students will trigger one of two low-enrollment thresholds that identify next steps to take in order to prevent further enrollment decline and possible campus consolidation. 

The gist: The board previously discussed enrollment thresholds that could adjust staffing guidelines, or the ratio of staff needed to effectively serve a campus, as one cost-saving measure. 

• Threshold 1: Campuses that fall below 500 students will trigger the low-enrollment Phase 1 model, which includes adjusting staff levels and implementing mitigation strategies to prevent further decline. Based on current enrollment projections, Block House Creek, Cox, Cypress, Giddens, Grandview Hills, Naumann and Westside elementaries are under this threshold.
• Threshold 2: Campuses that fall below 400 students will trigger the low-enrollment Phase 2 model, which includes a formal review process for potential consolidation. Based on current enrollment projections, Faubion, River Ridge and Steiner Ranch are under this threshold. 

Check out some of the top trending stories in the Austin area from March 9-12. 

1. Pipeline failure hits Pflugerville amid $845M in water projects

2. Dirt moving for 57-acre commercial, residential project near Georgetown-Round Rock border

3. Come on in: Check out the newest spots to open in San Marcos, Buda and Kyle

4. Bee Cave advances shifts to The Village at Spanish Oaks

5. Third Taco Bell location proposed for Leander

6. UT moves to rezone hundreds of acres in Northwest Austin for future medical center

A total of 69 Republican ballots cast on election day, but misplaced and not initially counted, will be tabulated and included in the final canvassed results following a March 12 court order.

What happened: While processing post-election paperwork March 11, the Williamson County Election Department discovered presiding judges at two Republican polling locations misplaced a total of 69 ballots cast on election day, a county spokesperson confirmed in an email.

The ballots, 40 from the Andice Community Center in Florence and 29 from the Cedar Park Randalls, were put in a box of election-related paperwork instead of the ballot box, resulting in them not being counted.

The Republican Party petitioned a Williamson County district judge to reopen the central counting station in order to tabulate these ballots and include them in the final count.

The outcome: Judge Betsy Lambeth granted the motion allowing the Republican Party's central counting station to reopen and count the ballots.