Leander ISD's board of trustees began discussing attendance zoning for elementary school no. 26, which is slated to open for the 2017-18 school year.

Jimmy Disler, LISD's executive director of operations, presented two preliminary draft scenarios to trustees at a March 3 board workshop. The scenarios, which are likely to change after public input, were created using updated demographics data from Population and Survey Analysts, an agency that assists Texas school districts "in planning for long range utilization of schools by projecting future student enrollment," according to PASA.

PASA's planning includes projections for new residential development, potential land-use for undeveloped land, as well as enrollment growth and decline.

Disler said staffers launched the attendance zoning website the week of Feb. 29, and the site has already received a lot of traffic from parents.

Trustee Aaron Johnson said during the rezoning process the district should consider ways to address underutilized campuses. Johnson suggested the possibility of prolonging construction to benefit LISD's "debt portfolio."

“I'm not saying we shouldn't build new schools," Johnson said. "The question is when and how many. … I'm not proposing the answer—I'm seeing an opportunity.”

LISD staffers create maps for campus attendance zoning upon the opening as well as maps for the district's future when additional schools open. Trustee Trish Bode suggested separating the 2017-18 school year maps on the attendance zoning website to make them more clear for parents.

Scenario A


Scenario A would move the following students to elementary school No. 26, which will be located in front of Stiles Middle School on Barley Road in Leander.

• Students residing in the Cold Springs and Hazelwood neighborhoods would move from Pleasant Hill Elementary School.

• Students residing in Catalina Ranch, Pecan Creek, Caballo Ranch, Vista Oaks East and West, and Mayfield Ranch neighborhoods would move from Parkside Elementary School.

• Students residing in the Brushy Bend Park, Great Oaks, Spanish Oak Terrace, and Sweet Farms neighborhoods would move from Reagan Elementary School.

Scenario A would move the following students to Bagdad Elementary School:

• Students residing in Oak Grove Road, Savanna Ranch and Mockingbird Hill neighborhoods would move from Plain Elementary School.

Scenario A would move the following students to Camacho Elementary School:

• Students residing in the Mason Creek II and Merritt Legacy Apartments neighborhoods would move from Whitestone Elementary School.

Scenario B


Scenario B would move the following students to elementary school No. 26

• Students residing in Escalara Ranch, Reagan’s Overlook, Whitetail, Sarita Valley, Catalina Ranch, Creek Meadows 1, Pecan Creek, Caballo Ranch, and Stonehurst neighborhoods would move from Parkside Elementary School.

• Students residing in neighborhoods including Brushy Bend Park, Great Oaks, Spanish Oak Terrace, and Sweet Farms would move from Reagan Elementary School.

• Students residing in Cold Springs and Hazelwood neighborhoods would move from Pleasant Hill Elementary School.

Scenario B would move the following students to Bagdad Elementary School:

• Students residing in Oak Grove Road, Savanna Ranch and Mockingbird Hill neighborhoods would move from Plain Elementary School.

Scenario B would move the following students to Camacho Elementary School:

• Students residing in the Mason Creek II and Merritt Legacy Apartments neighborhoods would move from Whitestone Elementary School.

Veronica Sopher, LISD's assistant superintendent of community and government relations, said an attendance zoning scenario will likely not be approved until the beginning of the summer, after public meetings seeking parent input have occurred.