Communication Items - District Updates

• Final Schematic Design for Elementary #8: VLK Architects shared the final schematic design options for Elementary #8 in the Lariat subdivision..
• 2025-26 Instructional Calendar Survey Results: Chief of Schools Travis Motal shared the 2025-26 instructional calendar survey results with the Board.
• Over 2,400 completed the survey and we received 834 comments. The majority of comments centered around daycare concerns on days off.
• Next steps on the instructional calendar
• School administration will bring a team together to analyze community feedback and bring a final draft to the district educational improvement committee (DEIC).
• Administration will bring a final draft of calendar options for Board approval in January or February.
• LHISD Superintendent Snell shared legislative and budget updates
• LH Education Foundation gave away over $102,000 in teacher grants.
• Based on elections in November, the probability of vouchers passing is probable.
• Major Bill topics that have been filed
• Basic allotment increase
• Increase funding for allotments: PreK, Special Education, and school safety.
• Property Tax relief
• The state Comptroller stated that Texas will have a $20 billion surplus in the next legislative session.
• The state currently has a $32.7 billion surplus this session.
• Public education budgeted for an additional $4.5 billion, not funded, but in the budget. There is hope for a supplemental bill for help during this current year.
• LHISD will have a $7.5 million deficit this year
• LHISD will work to reduce expenditures as much as reasonable this year
• Freeze hiring through attrition if possible.
• Reduce and eliminate travel out of district.
• Reduce campus and department budgets by another 10% (worked with principals on this)
• Recommend the reduction of transportation stops to improve efficiencies and reduce costs.
• Chief of Operations Mark Willoughby and Director of Transportation presented actionable items that they can take to improve efficiencies. The recommendation would be that we begin 33 afternoon stops instead of 77 afternoon stops in mid-January.
• LHISD will work towards a balanced budget of $99 million next year based on the current funding formula which results in a reduction of $4.6 million from this year's expenditures.
• LHISD is exploring the following cost saving measures.
• Master schedule audit looking for efficiencies.
• Increase class size ratio K-4 and 5-12
• Cuts at the central office
• Cuts to programs
• Other cuts to staff considering
• Policy DFAA (LOCAL): Reduction in Force: Financial Exigency
• Policy DFFB (LOCAL): Reduction in Force: Program Change
• LHISD is exploring possible ways to increase revenue
• Attendance incentives for campuses and staff
• Adding a supply fee
• Adding an athletic fee
• Bus advertising
• Website advertising
• Charter school partnerships (SB 1882)
• District enrollment is at 9,882 as of Dec. 13, 2024. This is an increase of 26 students since the November Board meeting.

December Action Items

• The Board approved the 2025-26 innovative courses as presented by Chief of Schools Travis Motal, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Susan Cole, and Counseling Coordinator Jamie Richardson. Those courses are:
• AP Human Geography,
• AVID 2,
• Practicum of Entrepreneurship, and
• Team Sports Officiating.
• The Board approved the 2023-24 annual financial report of LHISD as presented by Pattillo, Brown and Hill, L.L.P. The district received a clean audit with no findings. The opinion was an "unmodified opinion" which is the highest level school districts can receive.
• The Board approved the guaranteed maximum price No.1 for Liberty Hill Elementary #8 located in the Lariat neighborhood for $5,875,493. Elementary #8 is tracking over $1 million under budget.
• The Board approved testing services for Elementary #8, Liberty Hill High School expansions and renovations, and Liberty Hill High School concessions and restrooms.
• The Board approved the guaranteed maximum price No. 1 for Liberty Hill High School expansions and renovations, and Liberty Hill High School concessions and restrooms for $19,673,567. This project is tracking at $9 million under budget.
• The Board approved the special education room infill at Bill Burden Elementary for $16,057.
• The Board approved accepting resignations and the employment of personnel.

The next regular board meeting will be Tuesday, January 21, 2024.

Click here to listen to the Dec. 16, 2024 board meeting.

Liberty Hill ISD. Building Champions in Academics, Character, and Community

Email: superintendent@libertyhill.txed.net
Website: libertyhill.txed.net
Location: 301 Forrest Street, Liberty Hill, TX, USA
Phone: 512-260-5580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.snell.585
Twitter: @s_snell