ATX-PFH: Impact 9/9/2025

Hutto ISD is creating a new student-driven communication program to share stories across middle and high school campuses in the district.

What you need to know: The district will hold a parent information session at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the HISD administration building, 200 College St., Hutto, in the administrative conference room where school board meetings are held, where district staff will field questions about its upcoming student influencer program. 

About the program: Eliska Padilla, executive director of communications and community relations, said the district is seeking 10 to 12 student influencers—about one or two at each middle and high school campus—to create one or two pieces of social media content per month. Content created by students will showcase district programs and events, as well as amplify student voice in district communications.

The Hutto Police Department launched a Tool Loan Program this week, allowing residents to borrow common yard and home tools for free.

The gist: Hutto residents can borrow tools for up to three days to help with home maintenance and code compliance. Tools includes lawn mowers, leaf blowers, pressure washers, hedge trimmers, edgers, branch trimmers and drills. Residents can pick up tools from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesdays and must be returned between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursdays.

Two months after 25 campers and two counselors died in the historic July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic, Gov. Greg Abbott signed three new laws Sept. 5 that he said will “make youth camps safer” and ensure Texas communities are better prepared for future disasters. The flood victims' families attended the Sept. 5 bill signing ceremony in Austin.

The details: Under the two-pronged camp safety package, summer camps are required to remove existing cabins from floodplains by Jan. 1.

Camps must also develop and annually update comprehensive emergency plans, set up warning systems to notify campers if something is wrong and install ladders so campers can climb on cabin roofs during floods.

Looking ahead: Two other disaster preparedness bills, as well as legislation designed to regulate Texas’ multibillion-dollar THC industry, did not pass during the recent special legislative session, which ended around 1 a.m. Sept. 4.

When asked Sept. 5 if he planned to call a third legislative overtime to continue work on those policies, Abbott told reporters to "stay tuned."

High home prices are having a sustained impact on enrollment in RRISD, a new demographic report for the district shows.

The Zonda Education report suggests that home prices and interest rates have made it difficult for young families to purchase a home in the district. Even as more homes are built, sales within the district have fallen by roughly half over the past three years, Zonda President Bob Templeton said.

Current situation: Despite a large number of homes being built within Round Rock ISD, the school district’s future enrollment is uncertain, demographers said.

A report capturing data from the last quarter of 2024 shows home sales in RRISD fell by roughly half over the past three years. Based on this data, as well as housing starts, closings and home prices, Zonda predicted three enrollment scenarios for RRISD—ranging from a decrease of 1,061 students to an increase of about 1,730 students—by the 2034-35 school year.