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Lake Travis ISD’s State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness results show improvements year over year and gains compared to statewide results.

The overview: The TEA administers the STAAR test each year to assess student achievement in a given subject.

Students can receive one of four scores:

• Did not meet grade level
• Approaches grade level
• Meets grade level
• Masters grade level

Leander ISD will head into the 2026-27 school year with a $9.9 million shortfall, following the board of trustees' adoption of the budget June 18. 

The details: District documents show that the budget includes $465.9 million worth of revenues against $476.2 million worth of expenditures and $350,000 for other uses.

The debt service budget will have a balanced budget of $168 million. The child nutrition budget is projecting $21.1 million worth of expenditures against $15.2 million worth of revenues, resulting in a planned operating shortfall of $5.9 million intended to align with federal requirements to spend down excess fund balance.

Remember this? The board approved a 0% general pay increase as part of the 2026-27 compensation plan May 7. However, the plan includes a one-time lump sum retention payment of up to $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time employees.

Looking ahead: The board will next adopt the tax rate in August, once the district receives the certified property values from the appraisal district. Current projections show an unchanged tax rate of $1.0869.

Tex-Mex restaurant On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina permanently closed all company-owned restaurants in mid-June, according to an emailed statement from OTB Hospitality.

The overview: The company made the decision through an “evaluation of the business,” according to the statement.

“On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has made the difficult decision to move forward with a significant transition in its restaurant operations, which [included] the closing of company-owned locations by end of day Friday, June 12, 2026,” the statement read. “This decision follows a thorough evaluation of the business and was not made lightly.”

The statement added that the franchised locations will remain open.

Some background: A news release from Houston-based Pappas Restaurants, the parent company of Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and Pappasito’s Cantina, stated that the organization purchased On the Border May 1.

The restaurant offered nachos, quesadillas, fajitas and burritos, according to its menu.

• Company-owned locations closed June 12

Check out some of the most-read stories from the Austin area June 15-18. 

1. The Lodge Card Club reopens in Round Rock

2. Hays County denies agreement with 340-acre development over Edwards Aquifer recharge zone

3. Sweet Lemon Kitchen owner brings cafe to Georgetown's new entertainment district

4. 5 things to know: Bastrop data centers, SpaceX incentives and more

5. Austin Public Library postpones reopening, closure of 2 branches

6. Corral Prime Meat Market now open in New Braunfels