'They just keep coming': LTISD eyes future growth

The bond increased the tax rate from $1.3159 to $1.4083 per $100 of assessed property valuation. The district's 20 percent optional homestead exemption and the state's $15,000 mandated exemption resulted in a monthly increase of about $23 for the average homeowner.

The bond is financing the construction of a new elementary school and middle school as well as the expansion of Hudson Bend Middle School and Lake Travis High School.

Ratcliff said the expanded and new schools should keep up with student growth until the 2017–18 school year, when the projected enrollment is 11,015 students, which would exceed student capacity.

Charla Housson, a Realtor with Realty Austin who sells houses in the LTISD area, said the school district is a main draw for families to the area. Any slight increase in property taxes is offset by the positive impact the school district has on property values, she said.

"As we continue to grow, there will be a need for future schools," she said. "I trust that [district officials] are using the money wisely."

Possible future bond initiatives

A 2017–18 bond election would likely be aimed at financing a new middle school and potentially two new elementary schools, Ratcliff said. Although the bond election would be preferable for 2016, it would have less of a chance of passing during a presidential election year, he said.

Lake Travis ISD is predicting that a 2019–20 bond election would be needed to build a new high school, Ratcliff said.

Lake Travis High School, the only district high school, has a 2,500-student capacity. After the Lake Travis Middle School is built and the existing middle school becomes part of LTHS, the capacity will rise to about 3,500 students.

With the current growth rate, Ratcliff said a 3,500-student high school would not be adequate within 10 years.

He said it is crucial to build the district's second high school at the right time. If a second high school is built too soon, it means the district could not offer the same academic and extracurricular options at both.

"You want to minimize the impact on the first school when you open the second," he said.

Ratcliff said it makes sense to hold bond elections that only look a few years ahead in case student population projections are not met.

Redistricting

Opening new schools means new school attendance zone boundaries are needed.

In response to the new elementary school opening in 2014, LTISD will adopt new elementary school boundaries in 2013.

At the beginning of the year, a demographer will give the district projected student enrollment and a preliminary map of redrawn elementary school boundaries, LTISD Superintendent Brad Lancaster said.

The district will form a committee of school administrators and parents from each elementary school to discuss and debate the proposed redistricting map, Lancaster said. Several public forums will be held on the subject.

Lancaster said the LTISD board of directors will recommend the new elementary school boundaries in July or August, which would be a full year before the new school opens. The redistricting will try to keep racial and economic balance among the schools as much as possible while also making logical sense, Lancaster said.

"You don't want kids going past two schools just to get to a school to achieve perfect equity," he said.

Lancaster and Ratcliff said they do not expect everyone to be satisfied with the redistricting. Lancaster said while some people will be bothered by the new attendance zone lines, the district would accommodate concerns when possible.

Despite the effort needed for redistricting and bond initiatives, Lancaster said it is better to have a growing school district than a shrinking one.

"We are in an attractive community and an attractive school district, and [people] are going to keep moving here," he said. "It's a good place to be. I feel lucky to be here, and we will take it one day at a time."