ATX-SBK: Impact 10/28/2025

A turnaround plan for Bowie Elementary School is making progress after officials gave a presentation to the San Marcos CISD board of trustees on Oct. 20.

Bowie has received two consecutive “unacceptable” accountability ratings from the Texas Education Agency; if the campus receives five consecutive “unacceptable” ratings of a D or F, TEA may consider school closure, according to Terrence Sanders, deputy superintendent of academics and leadership development.

The gist: The turnaround plan, known as TAP, aims to move Bowie to an overall C rating by 2026 and a B rating by 2027, according to the presentation.

Zooming in: The main goals of the plan are:

• Tier I instruction
  
  • Universal instruction and support for all students to prevent skill gaps
• Student growth in reading and math
• Closing the gaps for emerging bilingual and special education students

Kyle residents are one step closer to seeing a planned all-abilities skate park after officials broke ground at the project site Oct. 24.

In a nutshell: Located at Gregg-Clarke Park, 1140 W. Center St., the 34,000-square-foot park will feature a skate plaza, two flow bowls and two pump tracks.

“Designed with inclusivity in mind, the park will welcome skateboarders, scooter riders, cyclists, wheelchair users and rollerbladers, offering a space where individuals of all ages and skill levels can connect, practice and play,” officials said in a news release.

Why it matters: Officials said in the release that the park represents the city’s goal of fostering active lifestyles for everyone.

“The All-Wheels Skatepark represents Kyle’s commitment to creating inclusive, active spaces that serve our growing community while also attracting our neighbors to visit and enjoy,” Parks and Recreation Director David Lopez said.

Stay tuned: Construction is set for a late summer 2026 completion.

A $12 million commercial development called Corridor Commercial Center is making progress at 6420 FM 1102 in New Braunfels.

Project details: The center is being developed by Corridor Industrial Group and constructed by Elm Constructors. Corridor Commercial Center will have 12 buildings across 100,000 square feet.

The buildings range in size from 3,850 to 11,900 square feet and can be divided into suites as small as 1,700 square feet, Miles Payne, a partner on the project and spokesperson for the development, said in an email to Community Impact.

Phase 1 of construction—which was the construction of four out of the 12 buildings—began in December 2024 and concluded in September. Each building is for lease, for sale or lease-to-purchase, and there will be a build-to-suit option for upcoming phases.

Phase 2 of construction consists of warehouse spaces with an office inside each warehouse, also called flexspace or flex warehouses.

Looking ahead: Phase 2 is anticipated to begin in December and is slated to be completed in July 2026.

Texas is home to about 3.5 million small businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Estimates show that the average Texas small-business owner could save about $2,500 per year if voters approve an expanded business tax exemption on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: State Proposition 9 would exempt up to $125,000 of a business’s personal property, such as equipment, furniture and vehicles, from taxation. Texas business owners currently receive a tax exemption on property worth $2,500 or less.

“At $2,500, virtually everyone's paying this tax,” NFIB Texas Director Jeff Burdett said in an Oct. 24 interview. “If you have a desk, a computer and a chair, you're probably over $2,500 [in inventory]. … It makes no difference for almost any business.”

At the polls: Early voting in the Nov. 4 election began Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

The overview: As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, has relaunched as the InCIder.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

Event details: As part of the relaunch, Community Impact will host its first-ever InCIder Hour, a new event aimed at celebrating and engaging the company’s supporters.

The event, open to InCIders only, will take place Nov. 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Community Impact Headquarters, 16225 Impact Way, Pflugerville.

Guests will have the opportunity to network with fellow InCIders, meet Community Impact staff and attend a featured conversation with legislative reporter Hannah Norton, moderated by CEO John Garrett.

“Our first event needed to start where all the hard work is put together,” Garrett said. “People are blown away when they see our operation. To be able to sit and chat with the best legislative reporter in Texas, Hannah Norton, makes it an event our InCIder friends deserve and hopefully will enjoy.”