District officials provided the board of trustees with updates on the placement of portable learning studios for the Child Development Center, efforts to create a blended campus culture and upcoming events during the March 25 board meeting.
Taking a step back
The trustees unanimously voted Jan. 14 to close Valley View Elementary and blend the campus with Barton Creek Elementary to help alleviate some of the district's million dollar projected budget shortfall next year.
The trustees have also approved the redrawing of some of its attendance zones to accommodate the anticipated enrollment increase on the blended campus, as well as stopping in-and-out-of-district transfers and some grandfathering.
The details
Barton Creek's Child Development Center is set to be relocated in order to make space for the anticipated enrollment increase on the main campus.
The CDC will be moved into portable learning studios that will be located on the north side of the Barton Creek campus. According to officials, the district has received the site plan exemption for the project, which will help expedite the project to receive permitting.
Staff is also working to prepare a request for proposal for a contractor to place the portables on site, said Miguel Garcia III, executive director of facilities, planning and construction. Garcia said the plan is to begin putting up the portables as soon as possible—possibly in May—in order to ensure they are ready for the 2025-26 school year.
No existing playground or parking space will be impacted by the placement of the studios, Garcia said.
What else?
Valley View principal Brandis Smoland said her three goals of the blend are to build a unified community, blend the traditions and values of both campuses, and ensure the academic transition is seamless.
Smoland said the district's new Future Forward Committee, comprised of parents, instructional coaches and more, is looking at how to accomplish this.
"Our true goal is to advise and recommend a list of events to our booster club and staff members to begin looking at all of that," Smoland said.
Stay tuned
A kindergarten pre-season kickoff will be held April 7, 5-6:30 p.m. at Barton Creek, located at 1314 Patterson Lane, Austin, in order to welcome Valley View families, Smoland said.
Additionally, a community event honoring Valley View Elementary will take place at 1201 South Capital of Texas Highway, Austin on April 27 from 1-4 p.m.
