Crosswalk, school zone on the horizon for Colony Oaks Elementary School
A crosswalk and school zone will be established in front of the new Colony Oaks Elementary School to encourage safer travel for pedestrian traffic. An interlocal agreement between Bastrop ISD and Bastrop County for the project was approved at the BISD school board meeting March 19.
Why it matters
“I truly believe that a school zone is what we need in front of an elementary school—especially in front of a school that is being built in a neighborhood that is growing rapidly,” BISD Police Chief Scot Bunch said at the meeting.
Bastrop ISD high schoolers served cultural feast
Contract food service management company Taher Inc. prepared Spanish paella for Bastrop ISD students as part of the company’s partnership with the district.
The company served meals to students at Bastrop and Cedar Creek high schools March 21 and 22, respectively. The meals were made with fresh mussels and saffron, Taher CEO Bruce Taher said.
Bastrop ISD continues chaplain volunteer program
The Bastrop ISD school board voted to maintain the current guidelines for volunteer chaplains in the school district at the Feb. 20 school board meeting.
Under the policy, chaplains are allowed in BISD schools as visitors and volunteers or can be considered for employment if qualified. The board did not adopt any further policy regarding chaplains under Senate Bill 763, which states Texas schools can choose to employ or accept volunteer chaplains without the need for certification.
Bastrop ISD attendance remains below prepandemic numbers
Bastrop ISD is averaging a 92% attendance rate for the 2023-24 school year—lower than the district’s prepandemic average of 94%.
While the district saw some recovery over the first semester, illness following winter break brought attendance back down, BISD Chief Financial Officer Dina Edgar said at the March 19 board meeting.
“Most school districts across the country are still experiencing this phenomenon,” Edgar said. “It is not new to Texas or to Bastrop ISD.”
The report presented March 19 was part of the fiscal year 2024-25 budget development update.
