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Joe’s Commentary: Just a Reminder: Teachers can deduct Covid-19 related expenses on their taxes this year.
Saw this article yesterday: “Teachers can deduct Covid-19 related expenses on their taxes this year. What to know” - I have not researched this article (which is sourced from Florida) for accuracy and there are likely differences for Texas. I also read today that if your salary did not increase by 6%, you are getting a reduction from inflation. - js - webmaster@texasisd.com
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Congratulations to the following New Supers
Sue Morton, Interim Superintendent, Hawkins ISD, has been named New Super of Hawkins ISD.
Dr. James Barton, Assistant Superintendent, San Marcos ISD, has been named New Super of Caldwell ISD.
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Superintendent Vacancies
Click to expand 
| Vacant | Simms ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Krum ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Mullin ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.C. (search suspended)INFO | Vacant | Region One ESC Executive Director; Search by: Region One ESC Board of DirectorsINFO | Vacant | Carthage ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Paint Rock ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo in conjunction with Dr. Daniel King and Dr. Abelardo SaavedraINFO | Vacant |
Executive Director UTSA Dual Language Community Lab Schools Partnership; Search by: UTSA College of Education & Human DevelopmentINFO |
Vacant | Boling ISD; Search by: Boling ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Bridgeport ISD - CCR; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey, Staci Robertson, & Rod TownsendINFO | Vacant | Chester ISD - Dr. Paul Drake, Principal,Livingston ISD; Search by: Chester ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Burkeville ISD; Dr. Darrell Myers & Burkeville ISD Board of TrustessINFO | Vacant | Jacksboro ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO | Vacant | Mathis ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Channelview ISD; Search by: KARCZEWSKI BRADSHAW SPALDINGINFO | Vacant | Westbrook ISD; Search by: Westbrook ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Rio Vista ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.C.INFO | Vacant | Lewisville ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., Mr. Gary Patterson & Dr. Karen RueINFO | Vacant | Charlotte ISD; Search by: Walsh Gallegos Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C. & Mr. Gary PattersonINFO | Vacant | Northwest ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO | Vacant | Roscoe Collegiate ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO | Vacant | Forsan ISD; Search by: Region 18 ESC, Dr. Dewitt Smith, Exec. DirectorINFO | Vacant | Muenster ISD; Search by: Meunster ISD Board of Trustees & Supt. Steven SelfINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Sweet Home ISD - Dr. Jennifer “Renee” Fairchild, Administrator,Gonzales ISD; Search by Region 3 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Harrold ISD - Cody Patton, Director of Operations,Tioga ISD; Search By: Region 9 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Windthorst ISD - William Paul, Principal,Breckenridge ISD; Search By: Region 9 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Northside ISD - Benny Barnett, Principal,Northside ISD; Rearch by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis & Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Donna ISD - Angela Dominguez, Deputy Superintendent,Colorado Springs School District 11; Search by: Law Office of Flores & Torres, LLP, Dr. Ruben D. OlivarezINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Colorado ISD - Dr. Larry Polk Jr. , Assistant Superintendent,Terrell ISD; Search By: Colorado ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Stephenville ISD - Eric Cederstrom, Deputy Superintendent,Pine Tree ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | El Paso ISD - Diana Sayavedra, Deputy Superintendent,Fort Bend ISD; Search by: Walsh Gallegos Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C. & Dr. Ann DixonINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Levelland ISD - Rebecca (Becky) McCutchen, Superintendent,Alpine ISD; Search by: Levelland ISD Board of Trustees, Assisted by Region 17 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Cushing ISD; Search by: KARCZEWSKI BRADSHAW SPALDINGINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Savoy ISD - Jance Morris, Principal,Sunray ISD; Search by: Brian Neal & Savoy ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| New Super | Hawkins ISD - Susan Morton, Interim Superintendent,Hawkins ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Lexington ISD - Dr. Cliff Lightfoot, Assistant Superintendent,Gladewater ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Caldwell ISD - James Barton, Assistant Superintendent,San Marcos CISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
How do I get my SuperSearch on TexasISD.com?TRS: Notice of Webcasts – Dec. 7-8 Board Meeting
We’d like to inform you of our next board meeting webcast on Dec. 7-8, 2021. The board meeting will begin at 8 a.m. The meeting will be shown live and recorded for on-demand viewing later. By clicking the link below, you will be taken to the website where the meeting can be viewed. Watch Live/On Demand Webcast of Dec. 7, 2021 - Watch Live/On Demand Webcast of Dec. 8, 2021 The board agenda can be viewed here.
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Preventive Law: Dyslexia: What’s Coming Next for Texas?
During the 2021 Regular Legislative Session, there were a number of proposed bills regarding reading instruction considered by both the bodies of the Texas Legislature, but ultimately, none of the proposed legislation survived the lawmaking gauntlet to be passed into law.
TEA opens yet another investigation into governance issues in South San ISD
The Texas Education Agency has opened another investigation into South San Antonio Independent School District, just three months after concluding a two-year investigation that resulted in the placement of a state-appointed monitor to oversee the school board. (2)
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SIMMS ISD HIRES ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
The board of trustees of the Simms Independent School District has contracted with Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. Lead Consultant/COO Jim Dunlap will conduct the search. More information including timeline and the application process is available on arrowsearchinc.com and TexasISD.com. (11)
KRUM ISD HIRES ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
The board of trustees of the Krum Independent School District has contracted with Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. Arrow President/CEO Dr. Russell Marshall will lead the search assisted by Lead Consultant/COO Mr. Jim Dunlap. Deadline for applications is Friday, January 7, 2022. More information including timeline and the application process is available on arrowsearchinc.com, TexasISD and the TASA job board. (1)
November 2021 Bond List
The list is still coming of 60 districts is pretty firm as are the winners and losers.
Waco & Marlin ISDs will continue requiring face masks despite court ruling reinstating governor’s ban
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Some school districts in Central Texas say they will continue to require masks despite a ruling from a federal appellate court Wednesday that temporarily restored Gov. Abbott’s executive order banning schools and other entities from mandating masks.
Waco ISD spokesperson Alice Jauregui said the district will continue to require masks as it has proven to be a successful COVID-19 mitigation tool.
“We have seen a great reduction in the number of cases from when the mask mandate went into effect,” Jauregui said. “The week it went into effect we had 285 cases reported throughout the district and as of this week we only have 3.”
The district, which had been sued by the state’s attorney general Ken Paxton for having a mask mandate, said it will continue to monitor the various legal cases regarding masks in Texas. However, Jauregui said removing the mask requirement now, especially during the holiday season would be dangerous.
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Mask mandates banned again in Texas schools. These districts will continue requiring them anyway
Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on school mask mandates may be in effect once again, but it won’t make a practical difference in the North Texas districts still requiring face coverings. On Wednesday, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals halted a federal judge’s ruling that temporarily tossed out Abbott’s ban, delivering at least a temporary victory to the governor and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
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Oxford Superintendent delivers message to school district
OXFORD, Mich. – In a video message addressed to the Oxford Community, Superintendent, Tim Throne, addressed the events following the recent school shooting. Throne recorded a somber video in the Performing Art Center lobby at the High School, where the shooting took place, where he issued words of encouragement to victims of the tragic shooting that occurred days before. Throne described the current state of the high school as a ‘wreck’ stating, “Maybe the best way to describe it as a warzone.” Throne gives credit to the Oxford Police Department for its quick response to the shooting.
“They did exactly as they were trained and executed the game plan, perfectly,” said Throne.
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School threats should bring ‘significant consequences,’ Michigan superintendent says
Lansing — Individuals making threats against Michigan schools should be prosecuted and face "significant consequences," Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Rice said Thursday. Rice made the comments two days after four students were killed in a mass shooting at Oxford High School and the same day an array of districts in Metro Detroit closed amid reports of threatening social media messages. More:Metro Detroit school districts cancel classes over social media posts in wake of Oxford
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Midland ISD discusses future of Washington STEM, YWLA
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - the Midland ISD held a special board meeting Wednesday evening to discuss the futures of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy and Washington STEM Academy.
“Washington is in jeopardy of being closed down by MISD and turned into the Young Women’s Leadership Academy,” said community activist Courtney Ratliff.
It all started with the 2019 Midland ISD bond.
As part of the bond passing, the YWLA was supposed to get a permanent campus.
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Carthage ISD plans to replace roof at high school gym
Carthage ISD will replace the high school gym’s roof and has also approved a number of large purchases.
Trustees unanimously voted to fund the projects at their November meeting. Projects are being funded through bond monies or federal ESSER grants.
Trustees voted to spend $502,000 to replace the roof of the high school gym. They awarded the bid to Reneau Roofing of Garrison and said the project had a 45-day completion window this summer.
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Akins High School locked down after student found with magazine, ammunition, chief says
Officials placed Akins High School on lockdown Wednesday after receiving a report that three students in a bathroom might have a handgun, the Austin school district police chief said. Officers did not find a handgun but did find one student with two magazines, one of which had ammunition, Chief Ashley Gonzalez said. No one fired shots, and no one was injured at the school. The school is no longer in lockdown and is now in "hold" mode, which means students and staff must remain where they are but can continue business as usual.
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Akins High School locked down after student found with magazine, ammunition, chief says
Officials placed Akins High School on lockdown Wednesday after receiving a report that three students in a bathroom might have a handgun, the Austin school district police chief said. Officers did not find a handgun but did find one student with two magazines, one of which had ammunition, Chief Ashley Gonzalez said. No one fired shots, and no one was injured at the school. The school is no longer in lockdown and is now in "hold" mode, which means students and staff must remain where they are but can continue business as usual.
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Cove High students among hundreds of wreath laying volunteers
KILLEEN — While last Saturday’s rainy conditions may have deterred some people from participating in the annual wreath laying at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, it did not deter many students from multiple Copperas Cove ISD clubs, such as DECA, National Honor Society and the Criminal Justice Club, from participating. Copperas Cove High School seniors Dayna Ruiz and Allyssa Kimball — both members of DECA and National Honor Society — helped with the wreath laying last Saturday as they have for the past few years.
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Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C.
Sara Leon & Associates, PLLC
TACS TALK: RETIRE/REHIRE IN AN AGE OF COVID-19
Time and Date: December 9th
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
FREE to Register
With COVID-19, school Districts across the state are struggling to fill vacant positions, and retirees are a resource that can help assure qualified personnel are available. What are the rules and how do recent legislative changes impact your ability to hire retirees? Attorney Hans P. Graff explains the rules and recent changes to the law that affect your employment options.
CI TEXAS ROUNDUP: Hays CISD to hold special meeting on resignation of board member
The Hays CISD board of trustees will hold a special meeting Dec. 2 at 4:30 p.m. to consider what action might be needed regarding the pending resignation of trustee Willie Tenorio, Jr.
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El Paso ISD names principal of new Navarrete Middle School
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Thursday, officials with El Paso Independent School District (EPSID) announced that longtime educator Michael Mendoza has been tapped to lead the new Capt. Gabriel Navarrete Middle School. Mendoza, the current principal at Bassett, will be the principal of the consolidated Navarrete when the new campus opens in the fall of 2022. The school is currently under construction near the former William Beaumont Army Medical Center site.
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Burton ISD to discuss bond project
Multiple items regarding the Burton ISD bond project are on the Board of Trustees agenda for its meeting on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at the administration office.
The board will deliberate and possibly take action on selecting an architect, construction delivery method and construction manager-agent (CMS) for the bond project. It will also consider the adoption of a prevailing wage rate for the project.
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Houston, Aldine ISDs to keep mask mandates in place despite federal appeals court ruling
The Houston Independent School District will keep its mask mandate in place, district officials said Thursday, despite a federal appeals court ruling halting an injunction on Gov. Greg Abbott’s order prohibiting such requirements. “The ruling does not impact the requirement that students, staff, and visitors must wear masks while on HISD property. This mandate remains in place for HISD schools,” the district said in a statement. “While we are heartened that we have maintained the lowest rate of active COVID-19 cases in the state and vaccinations are now available for our youngest students, HISD’s mask mandate will remain in place for students, staff, and visitors in all HISD schools, buildings, and buses regardless of vaccination status.”
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Hinojosa Named Superintendent of the Year by National Publication
Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s work steering his district through a pandemic earned him high marks from a publication focused on education. K-12 Dive, a publication that looks at the news and trends shaping education in the kindergarten through 12th-grade range, named Hinojosa its Superintendent of the Year last week. “At the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hinojosa was ahead of the curve in recognizing what was on the horizon,” wrote editor Bruce Riddell. “At the time, the district had recently experienced a tornado that destroyed three schools.” (2)
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Lewisville ISD selects interim superintendent
Lewisville ISD selected an interim superintendent following deliberation in a Monday Board of Trustees special meeting. Following a closed executive session that exceeded one hour, the board voted unanimously to appoint Gary Patterson as the interim superintendent. In a Nov. 16 meeting, Patterson and another former superintendent, Karen Rue, were appointed as “superintendent search consultants” following the announced retirement of current Superintendent Kevin Rogers.
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Katy ISD trustees approve design, addition for Katy Elementary School
Katy ISD's board of trustees unanimously voted to approve the redesign of Katy Elementary School, located at 5726 George Bush Drive, Katy, at their Nov. 15 meeting. The proposed design shared by Kirksey Architecture at the meeting included major changes to both the interior and the exterior of the building, including a new two-story addition on the property and a new entry, enlarging the library, adding collaboration spaces, replacing the electric system and more.
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ASBO Awards Conroe ISD for Excellence in Budget Presentation
The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) recognized Conroe Independent School District for excellence in budget presentation with the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the 2021–2022 budget year. ASBO International’s MBA promotes and recognizes best budget presentation practices in school districts. Participants submit their applications and budget documents to a panel of school financial professionals who review the materials for compliance with the MBA Criteria Checklist and other requirements and provide expert feedback that districts can use to improve their budget documents.
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ARLINGTON ISD BREAKS GROUND FOR TWO NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Arlington ISD kicks off two major construction projects, as it revitalizes schools in East Arlington to give generations of students the opportunities needed to succeed in the 21st century. Thornton Elementary School students helped break the ground Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 at 2301 E. Park Row Dr. for the construction of their new school building. Berry Elementary School students will do the same for their future building Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 1800 Joyce St. The rebuild of Thornton and Berry are the second and third of four school replacements funded by 2019 Bond voters. The District says it is an effort to modernize the schools and revitalize their neighborhoods.
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Tarleton inks pact with Midlothian ISD for admissions, scholarships
Tarleton State University and the Midlothian Independent School District have agreed to a partnership designed to lend a hand to MISD seniors who want a college education.
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CEO & Founder of Evolution Academy Charter School District Elected to Texas Public Charter School Association Board of Directors
DALLAS, Dec. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cynthia A. Trigg, CEO and founder of Evolution Academy Charter School District, has been elected to the Texas Public Charter School Association's (TCSA) Board of Directors as a Small School Representative. Her term will begin in January 2022 and last for three years.
TCSA's mission is to support and advocate for public charter schools to ensure every family has the ability to choose a high-quality public school. The Board of Directors is composed of member schools' representatives and philanthropic and community representatives that guide and advance TCSA's mission.
As CEO and Founder of Evolution Academy, Cynthia Trigg will represent a small charter school based on its enrollment for the current membership year, with a standard currently set at 0-1499 students.
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MILANO ISD COMPLETES LED LIGHTING PROJECT
Milano ISD recently completed a comprehensive district wide LED lighting project. The entire district now has LED lighting, creating a superior lighting environment for students and staff on all of their campuses. The project included 3,500 lights being upgraded from fluorescent to LED. Because of the energy savings realized by using LED lighting, the project will quickly pay for itself. In addition, the LED lighting will last 5 times longer than their traditional lighting applications, freeing up staff to tackle other items and save money on replacing lights. The annual energy cost savings is estimated at over $22,000 per year.
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Principal selected for Katy ISD’s newest elementary
Katy ISD has named a principal to Elementary No. 44, Katy ISD’s newest campus. Martha Pulido will be the first principal for the incoming school, the district announced Tuesday. Located in the Cane Island subdivision at 7400 Innovation Drive, the as-yet unnamed Elementary No. 44 will open in the fall of next year to accommodate growth in the district’s northwest quadrant. It will provide relief to Bryant Elementary School.
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Dallas ISD family lives their passion for giving back
Michael Iwasko has always admired the passion his wife Alicia pours into her work with Dallas ISD families, first as a teacher and now as principal at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School. That is why when their daughter turned 2, he decided to quit his corporate job and find a way to also make a difference.Dallas ISD family lives their passion for giving back “I wanted my daughter [Nadezhda] to look at me with the same pride as when she looks at the work my wife does to make a difference in her school and our community,” Michael said.
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Cinco Ranch HS student caught with firearm at school, principal says
KATY, Texas (KTRK) -- A Cinco Ranch High School student was removed from class Tuesday after they were found in possession of a firearm, according to the school's principal.
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Abilene ISD retirees enjoy return to seeing each other with luncheon
It was time for the leaders to become the servers Thursday.
Gathering for the Abilene Independent School District's annual retiree luncheon, current administrators and school leaders were the waiters and waitresses.
That included district Superintendent David Young, who flashed smiles as he delivered meals to a number of former employees.
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Fort Bend ISD is closing its virtual learning program as COVID-19 cases dwindle across the district
Fort Bend ISD will be ending its virtual learning program, which was established for children most at risk for COVID-19, after a majority of parents said they were ready for their children to return to school in person. The program will close on December 17 — the final day of the fall semester. According to Sherry Williams, the district’s director of communications, 77% of virtual learning families responded to a survey and indicated that they were ready for their child to return to school in person.
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Tyler ISD 8th graders explore possible career paths at Career, Technology Center
TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - It was a day of exploration for some 8th graders in the Tyler school district. Students got to meet with other students at the Career and Technology Center to talk about future career ideas. It’s the first year Tyler ISD is having every 8th grader in the district come through the doors of the Career and Technology Center to see what their 26 programs have to offer students. Sarah Jane Walker, the Career and Technology Education Counselor, said the day was all about engaging with the students and getting them prepared for high school. “Everything from construction technology to culinary arts, cosmetology to engineering, health sciences, animals sciences, manufacturing, even this next year we’re adding a plumbing program,” Walker said. Walker said it’s not just being academically ready for the future, but being career and college ready for the future. Eighth-grader Sydney Cook said she gravitated toward the animal science table and learned how to go about that path.
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Irving ISD To Redistrict Trustee Zones
Irving ISD will engage in a redistricting process for its Board of Trustee single member districts from December 2021 to January 2022. Redistricting involves changing the single member district boundaries used for trustee elections. Please note, there will be no impact on any school attendance boundaries. Irving ISD is making changes to the single member districts because the Texas Education Code requires a school district to redistrict if data shows existing single member districts have a population deviation of more than 10 percent between the most and least populous district. Census data, gathered every 10 years, is what is used to determine those population changes.
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Comal ISD begins work on approved 2021 bond projects
The Comal ISD board of trustees in a Nov. 18 board meeting took steps to begin work on bond projects approved by voters during the Nov. 2 election.
Bus and land purchases, the construction of four new campuses, technology upgrades and infrastructure projects were among the items approved by voters.
Pfluger Architects, an Austin-based firm that has completed several projects for the district, was named as the architect and engineer for the district’s eighth middle school.
The school is slated to open in August 2024 on the corner of US 281 and FM 1863, and will provide relief to nearby Pieper Ranch Middle School, according to the district.
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