WHAT WE REPORTED: Leander ISD voters approved the district’s $454.4 million bond package Nov. 7. The bond is scheduled to fund projects, such as several new schools, agricultural barns, and stadium and classroom expansions.

THE LATEST: LISD’s board of trustees heard a presentation on the bond authorization project schedule Dec. 7. The first new school funded by the bond, Elementary School No. 27, is planned to be located in the Larkspur neighborhood in northern Leander on land the district already owns, according to LISD spokesperson Corey Ryan. The school may serve children from nearby subdivisions, such as Orchard Ridge, Bryson and Summerlyn West, said Jimmy Disler, chief facilities and operations officer for LISD.

WHAT’S NEXT: Design, construction and furnishing for ES 27, Middle School No. 9 and ES 28 are underway in 2018, according to district documents. ES 27 is expected to be complete in August 2019; MS 9 is due in August 2020, and ES 28 is due in August 2021. Other projects under construction in 2018 include traffic gate installation at 10 elementary schools; security upgrades; updates to softball complexes at Leander and Cedar Park high schools; and agricultural barn construction and updates at Vandegrift, Glenn and Leander high schools, according to the documents.

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of Top 10 stories to follow in 2018 here.