Bastrop ISD passes balanced budget, boosts pay for all staff
While some Central Texas school districts have postponed approving staff raises until later this summer, or are weighing the closure of campuses in the coming years due to new legislation and budget woes, Bastrop ISD approved a balanced budget and raises for all staff for the 2025-26 financial year.
In a nutshell: BISD’s Chief Financial Officer Mike White said this is possible through a combination of budget cuts made in the previous fiscal year—freeing up funds—and substantial growth projections.
In their own words: “We’re just going to continue to remain diligent and do everything we can to protect our classrooms, [and] make every dollar count for our students,” White said. “A big part of that is having a handle on the projected growth because that will impact our funding for every future year.”
About the business: The spot will offer a variety of tea and coffee options. Secret menu items, including apple pie and blueberry muffins, will also be available.
The details: A company representative confirmed with Community Impact on Aug. 27 that construction on the 2,078-square-foot HTeaO location will begin later this year. The project is estimated to cost $950,000, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
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The new concept will be led by chefs Daniel Berg and Dylan Salisbury, of the Austin-based Berg & Sons Hospitality. The company opened its first restaurant, Bill’s Oyster, in 2023 and opened Teddy’s Restaurant & Bar in 2024.
The menu blends fine dining with casual fare, featuring Pat LaFrieda steaks—sourced from the renowned East Coast butcher—alongside burgers, cocktails and wines at a range of price points, according to a news release.
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Asian-barbecue fusion food truck Si Baby-Q relocated to Pink Flamingo Food Court in July. The menu features barbecue dishes with an Asian twist, such as brisket and ribs with an Indonesian pepper and spice rub.
Sides include smoked kimchi; queso noodles made with long peppers from India; street corn; roti, or an Indian bread; and a banana pudding dessert.
The food truck also sells smoked meats by the pound and features weekend specials such as smashburgers.
Amid Democratic criticism, Texas lawmakers vote to overhaul STAAR and launch new tests in 2027
Both chambers of the Texas Legislature have voted to overhaul the state’s standardized testing system, putting public school students one step closer to taking new exams in the 2027-28 school year.
The details: House Bill 8 would eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and replace it with three shorter tests, which students would take at the beginning, middle and end of each school year.
Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said HB 8 would “reduce test anxiety, provide teachers with immediate feedback and create a pathway for trust in our system again." The majority of House Democrats and a few Republicans disagreed, arguing Aug. 26 that the bill would increase the amount of time students spend on exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the Texas Education Agency.
Next steps: After state senators passed HB 8 with a 21-7 vote Aug. 27, the bill returned to the House for consideration of a Senate amendment. If House lawmakers sign off on the changes, HB 8 will be sent to the governor.
