ATX-RRK: Impact 10/14/2025

Round Rock ISD officials approved contracts for lighting replacements at competition and high school stadiums in the district at an October meeting.

What you need to know: Trustees approved two contracts to replace existing lighting at stadiums in the district with LED lighting. District documents state these replacements are intended to reduce energy consumption and require less maintenance, as well as improve visibility for spectators and athletes on the field. The replacements will be funded by 2018 and 2024 bond funds, district documents state.

The city of Round Rock will host an open house for community members to weigh in on future plans for the city's trail system Oct. 15 and 16

What you need to know: Community members interested in sharing their input to help guide city staff in creating a master plan for Round Rock's growing trail system will be able to do so at two upcoming open houses. 

The details: The open houses will be held: 

• 5-8 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Allen R. Baca Center, at 301 Bagdad Ave., Bldg. 2, Round Rock
• 5-8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Bob Bennett Transportation and Utilities building, at 3400 Sunrise Blvd., Round Rock 

Texas’ power grid is unlikely to have issues this December, according to an Oct. 3 report by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

The details: During the winter, demand for electricity spikes when people get up in the morning and return home in the evening. This December, the tightest period is expected to be from 7-8 a.m. each day, when little to no solar power is being produced. ERCOT found that there will be a 1.81% chance of a grid emergency during that time.

“Under typical grid conditions, the deterministic scenario indicates that there should be sufficient generating capacity available," the report reads.

The background: Texas' grid withstood three cold snaps early this year. ERCOT last asked residents to voluntarily reduce their energy use in January 2024.

Legislative approach: State lawmakers approved legislation this spring that is designed to make the grid more reliable by tightening regulations on large electric consumers, such as data centers. In extreme grid conditions, those customers will be required to switch to backup power to reduce strain on the grid.

Odyssey, a New York-based tech company, has been selected to manage Texas’ $1 billion education savings account program, the state comptroller’s office announced Oct. 6.

The overview: Odyssey will work with the comptroller to launch the program, deemed “Texas Education Freedom Accounts,” ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Families can begin applying for the program early next year, and those accepted will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to private school or homeschool them.

Zooming in: Odyssey will develop and manage an online platform to administer Texas’ education savings account program. State law also tasks the company with:

• Collecting applications and determining which families are accepted to the program
• Approving vendors for education-related materials and services, such as textbooks, transportation and tutoring
• Reviewing inquiries and complaints about the program
• Advertising the program and communicating with interested families