1. Round Rock ISD calls $572 million bond
After several months of planning, the Round Rock ISD board of trustees voted unanimously last week to call an election for a $572.09 million bond package. The election will take place May 6.
The election will include three ballot propositions: One emphasizing growth, renewal and safety; a second dealing with innovation and classroom expansion; and a third focused on fine arts and athletics.
Proposition 1 includes funding for RRISD’s proposed sixth high school, which at $130 million is the bond package’s big-ticket item.
2. CodeNEXT open house
North Austin residents will have a chance to learn more Saturday about Austin's new land development code. A CodeNEXT open house is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. at Lanier High School, 1201 Payton Gin Road, Austin.
Austin officials released a first draft of the code rewrite Jan. 30. An accompanying map is expected to be released April 18. Here are six takeaways from CodeNEXT first draft, according to city of Austin experts.
3. New school trustee in Round Rock
RRISD trustees appointed Edward Hanna last week to fill the vacant Place 4 seat on the district's school board. The seat was left empty after former trustee Terri Romere resigned in January.
Trustees decided to appoint a replacement rather than call a special election, in large part due to the financial cost involved. Hanna was sworn in right after his appointment Feb. 15.
4. District 4 homelessness forum
Austin City Council Member Greg Casar hosts a forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday on developing proactive solutions and approaches to address homelessness in the area. The event takes place in the cafeteria at Lanier High School. For more information, call 512-978-2104.
5. Jollyville Road concept draws crowd
More than 100 people attended a meeting last week at the Spicewood Springs branch library to hear details on a city of Austin proposal to remove two traffic lanes from Jollyville Road in order to boost bicycle and pedestrian access. City staffers gave the concept to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is conducting a case study of the US 183 corridor from MoPac to Cypress Creek Road in Cedar Park on how to provide more opportunities for walking and biking.
Many of the people at the meeting were critical of the idea, although Dipti Borkar-Desai, the north area engineer for the Austin Transportation Department, said no active proposal was in place and likely wouldn't be for at least another five or six years.
6. Pflugerville ISD's superintendent search
PfISD is hosting an open community forum Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the PfISD Rock Gym next to Timmerman Elementary School, 700 W. Pecan St., Pflugerville. The board of trustees will use feedback on what qualities and characteristics the community wants in the next superintendent as part of their search to replace former superintendent Alex Torrez, who announced his resignation Dec. 7. Torrez and the board came to an agreement Feb. 10 to allow Torrez to pursue other interests and allow the board to begin the search for a replacement.
