Georgetown ISD is looking to continue expanding its career and technical education program.

The district may begin providing courses in entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, networking and building trades, Wes Vanicek, chief of construction and future readiness initiatives, said at a Sept. 2 board workshop.

This comes as the district has adopted a goal to increase the percentage of graduates meeting criteria for college, career, and military readiness from 79% in June 2025 to 90% by June 2026.

In case you missed it: GISD opened a $97 million Future Ready Learning Complex last school year to expand its career and technical education opportunities, according to previous Community Impact reporting. 

This school year, GISD launched an advanced manufacturing and robotics CTE program through a partnership with CelLink Technologies and the Georgetown Manufacturing Alliance.

Notable quote: “Georgetown ISD is the pinnacle of career and technical education in the state of Texas,” Vanicek said. “CTE in GISD provides students with clear and robust paths to successful and meaningful careers.”

A new clinic offering cosmetic treatments, spa services, reconstructive and rejuvenation surgeries opened this summer near the border of Round Rock and Georgetown.

About the business: Locally owned by husband and wife duo Dr. Bruce Beheshtin and Mona Madjid, Highland Rejuvenation Clinic is located in the Vista Office Park near the intersection of FM 1460 and Westinghouse Road.

Did you know? Dr. Beheshtin also owns nearby Smile Solutions Dentistry, which opened earlier this year.

The Heart Hospital of Austin at St. David's Round Rock is the first in the nation to use a new vascular stent treatment for carotid artery disease, with a surgeon at the hospital being the first to use this treatment outside of clinical trials in July. 

What you need to know: Per a news release shared by the hospital system in August, Dr. Bradley Boone, M.D., chief of surgery at Heart Hospital of Austin at St. David’s Round Rock and vascular surgeon with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons, performed the first surgery in the country to use a carotid stent in the transcarotid artery revascularization technique since receiving approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Here are the top trending Community Impact stories from the Austin metro from Sept. 1-5.

1. Cedar Park denies request for business to operate late hours in north Cedar Park neighborhood

2. Georgetown to use eminent domain to complete Williams Drive intersection improvements

3. Chuy's to build restaurant near Georgetown, Leander border

4. Farmers markets, fried chicken and sports training: 19 business updates from Cedar Park

5. 230 homes sold across Georgetown's 3 area ZIP codes in July

6. City Council approves request to rezone Apple campus in North Austin

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."