Dripping Springs ISD's newest school to be called Cypress Springs Elementary, helmed by Principal Kellie Raymond

Update—Jan. 26, 12:12 a.m.: This story was updated to include hiring decisions pertaining to Cypress Springs Elementary School that were approved later in the Dripping Springs ISD board of trustees' Jan. 25 meeting.

Dripping Springs ISD's newest school has a name: Cypress Springs Elementary. The DSISD board of trustees voted unanimously on the name at a Jan. 25 meeting, following the recommendation of the DSISD Schools Naming Committee. Until now referred to as Elementary #5, Cypress Springs Elementary will be located at the corner of Darden Hill Road and Sawyer Ranch Road.

"It will definitely carry excitement forward as we get the school finished," board. President Barbara Stroud said of the naming.

Cypress Springs Elementary, so named for a group of springs located near the district's boundaries and for the vegetation that grows on the school site, will open to students in fall of this year. The new school's name follows in the tradition of DSISD's other schools, all named for springs in and around Dripping Springs.

Several other important votes relating to Cypress Springs were taken at the Jan. 25 meeting, including a vote to hire Kellie Raymond as principal for the new elementary school. Raymond currently serves as principal of Dripping Springs Elementary School. Likewise, Sycamore Springs Elementary School Principal Kristen Ray was hired to a new position with the district as the DSISD Director of Elementary Education.

Additionally, the board approved preliminary parameters to be used in planning for the 2020-21 school year budget, including for Cypress Springs. 35 new positions are currently being budgeted for the new school—four new leadership and professional support positions, seven campus clerical staff or instructional aides, 11 teachers and 13 auxiliary staff. Other Cypress Springs staff may be transferred from other district campus. The district is planning for 10 other miscellaneous new positions to accommodate growth throughout the district.