PfISD Family Newsletter

Hispanic Heritage Month - Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

Suicide Prevention Month

Sept. 13-19: Nat’l Arts in Education Week

Sept. 15: Nat’l IT Professional Day

Sept. 17: Regular Board Meeting

Sept. 26: Nat’l PTO/PTA Appreciation Day

Sept. 29: Pfuture Ready Event

Applications are now open for this year's Leadership Pflugerville ISD program! This is a great opportunity for community members to gain an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how our school district operates.

Each year, approximately 40 participants — representing the diverse communities across PfISD's 95-square-mile area — take part in a series of interactive learning sessions held from October through May. The program offers insight into the inner workings of a public school district that serves more than 24,000 students and employs over 4,000 staff members. Participants explore district leadership and key operations, and engage in thoughtful discussions about the complexities of managing a large educational organization.

Session topics span a range of areas, including district operations, finance, curriculum, and other critical aspects of the educational system, giving participants a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and responsibilities involved in supporting student success.

Leadership PfISD brings together individuals from all four of the district's learning communities — Connally, Hendrickson, Pflugerville, and Weiss. The group meets eight times during the school year, typically on the second Wednesday of each month, from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

2026-2027 Meeting Dates:

October 14, 2026
November 11, 2026
December 9, 2026
January 13, 2027
February 10, 2027
March 10, 2027
April 14, 2027
May 12, 2027

Important: Before applying, please review the meeting dates above carefully. To successfully complete the program, participants must be able to attend at least 6 of the 8 meetings. We ask that you confirm your availability before submitting your application.

Apply online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WN97RBJ

PfISD has announced public hearing dates for each of its five District Optimization Task Forces. These hearings give parents, staff and community members an opportunity to share feedback directly before recommendations move forward.

PUBLIC HEARING DATES

Rezoning Task Force

September 29 | 5:30 p.m. | Admin Building, Board Room

School Closure Task Force

September 30 | 5:30 p.m. | Admin Building, Board Room

High School Schedule Task Force

October 27 | 5:30 p.m. | Admin Building, Board Room

Innovative Programming Task Force

November 10 | 5:30 p.m. | LTC, Bat Cave

Each hearing is open to the public and will focus on the specific issues assigned to that Task Force.

We encourage our PfISD community to attend, learn more and share your thoughts. Meeting notes and recordings will also be made available on the district website.

Your feedback is an important part of helping shape the future of PfISD.

For more information: https://www.pfisd.net/about-us/district-optimization

PfISD Special Education is offering several opportunities this fall for parents and families to connect, learn and receive support. Both in-person and virtual sessions are available.

☕ In-Person Sessions at the LTC

Coffee Talks
October 20 & December 1 | 8:30–10 a.m.

📚 Functional Academics
September 17 & December 3 | 10–11 a.m.

💻 Virtual Parent Support & Information Sessions

Parents Supporting Parents Group
September 15, October 21, November 18 & December 15 | Noon–1 p.m.

Medicaid Waivers & LIDDA Information Sessions
November 12 | Noon–1 p.m.

🔗 Join the virtual sessions via Zoom:
https://pfisd-net.zoom.us/j/7794893516?pwd=TFVIM1VxK1ZvZHczOFNXYVFSeHNadz09

At Pflugerville ISD, we’re committed to our 3E’s Promise — ensuring every student graduates ready for Employment, Enrollment, or Enlistment.

Join us for Pfuture Ready! This event is designed to help families explore high school programs and opportunities that prepare students for life after graduation.

Learn about academic pathways, career and technical education, JROTC, fine arts, athletics, and more!

September 29, 2026

• Resource Fair: 5-6 pm
• Conference: 6-8 pm
• PfISD Learning & Technology Center: 1601 W Pecan St, Pflugerville, TX 78660

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Pflugerville ISD is reinstating parent-documented absences. This means that, for a defined set of reasons, a parent or guardian note will once again be accepted to excuse your student’s absence, without requiring a doctor’s note for every occurrence.

We know families have been asking for this, and we want you to understand exactly how it works so there are no surprises.

What a Parent Note Can Excuse

1. You may submit a note to excuse up to five school days per semester, per student, for:

2. Your student’s illness, injury, or health-related condition

3. A medical, dental, or behavioral health appointment

4. The serious illness, hospitalization, or death of an immediate family member

There is no change to excused absences related to certain religious, military, or legal proceedings, college visits, and driver’s license appointments, and those don’t count against your five days. Please see the Student Handbook for details.

What a Parent Note Cannot Excuse

To keep this policy fair and consistent for every family, a parent note cannot be used for:

1. Family vacations or trips

2. Personal errands that could be scheduled outside school hours

3. Oversleeping, missed rides, or traffic

4. Work, babysitting, or non-District activities

How to Submit a Note

Send your note to your campus attendance office within three school days of your student returning to school. Notes can be submitted in writing, emailed (this is the best way for tracking) or submitted through the method your campus provides. Each note should include:

1. Your student’s full name and student ID

2. The date(s) of the absence

3. The specific reason for the absence

4. Your name, signature (or electronic submission), and a phone number where the campus can reach you

Good to Know

1. A parent note is reviewed, not automatically approved. Your campus will confirm the reason meets District guidelines.

2. After five parent-documented days in a semester, a note from a licensed health-care provider will be required for future illness-related absences.

3. This is separate from absences the District is already required by law to excuse (such as certain religious, military, or legal proceedings), those don’t count against your five days.

Why This Matters

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success, and we want every absence, excused or not, to come with the support your student needs to catch up. Reinstating parent notes gives families more flexibility while keeping our attendance standards clear and consistent.

If you have questions about this policy or a specific absence, please contact your campus attendance office or the Office of Student Affairs.

Featured shoutout

⭐ Cory Gunter – Hidden Lake ES

“Mr. Gunter has built such fun and meaningful relationships with the choir students. Our child comes home after every rehearsal talking about how engaging and enjoyable choir has been.” -via Kristen Kessel, parent)

✨ Have you experienced a staff member who went above and beyond?

✨ Did someone’s kindness or commitment leave a lasting impression?

✨ Do you want to celebrate an educator, coach, or support staff member for the difference they’ve made?

If so, we invite you to take a moment to submit a Shoutout. Your words of appreciation will not only brighten someone’s day, but also strengthen the culture of gratitude and support that makes PfISD such a special place. These shoutouts will be featured in our Monthly PfISD Magazine: The Pflyer.

A Few Helpful Reminders When Submitting a Shoutout:

• Keep your message short and meaningful.
• Be specific: Share what the staff member did that stood out to you.
• Keep it positive and encouraging—Shoutouts are meant to celebrate!
• Anyone can send a Shoutout: parents, students, or community members.
• Submissions may be shared publicly to highlight our amazing staff, so please keep your message professional and kind.