Hill Country News

LISD will continue to monitor COVID-19 numbers and said it looks forward to a return to normal capacity limits at indoor events upon a return to the yellow stage.

BREAKING: LISD to limit indoor athletic event crowds during “red stage”

Beginning Monday, Aug. 30, indoor extracurricular events in Leander ISD will be limited to 50% capacity. This will remain in effect while the district is in the “red stage.” Masks are … more

From Staff Reports | 8/27/21

Protested lined the side of U.S. Highway 183 at its intersection with RM 2243 in Leander on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, to voice their opposition to Leander ISD's recent face mask mandate.

WilCo attorney weighs in — again — on masking ruckus; says school mask mandates are illegal

Williamson County Attorney Dee Hobbs Thursday weighed in again on the legal issues surrounding requirements some local governments — like school boards — have enacted as the result … more

Richard Stone | Editor at Large | 8/26/21

A Texas elementary school student works on a laptop.

With a full plate of controversial bills to go, Texas House committee OKs funding for virtual learning

With a quorum restored and legislation moving in the Texas House again, GOP lawmakers are hoping to push through a wide array of education-related bills in the next two weeks, covering issues from … more

By Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune | 8/24/21

Alejandra Lopez, a San Antonio teacher, works with her colleagues to use critical race theory to inform their teaching.

“I wanted to teach differently than I had been taught”: How some Texas educators practice anti-racist teaching

As a child in her San Antonio fourth grade classroom, Alejandra Lopez learned about the Battle of Alamo the way most Texas students do: The Anglo fighters were valiant heroes against the Mexican … more

By Isabella Zou, The Texas Tribune | 8/24/21

John Graham, LISD's assistant superintendent of campus activities and support and who has been tasked with the district's response to the coronavirus, addressed trustees at Monday's school board meeting.

BREAKING: Public health officials recommend Leander ISD close for 10 days to stop spread of COVID-19

While Leander ISD trustees heard more than two hours of public comment during a special meeting Monday night, county public health officials privately warned district personnel that the level ... more

Richard Stone | Editor at Large | 8/24/21

Nurses and healthcare workers with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 121RN distribute backpacks to children during a back to school event offering school supplies, Covid-19 vaccinations, face masks, and other resources for children and their families at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in Los Angeles, California on August 7, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

Anti-mask states could face civil rights investigations, secretary of education says

States blocking schools from imposing mask mandates on teachers and students could face federal civil rights investigations, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Sunday. He cast mask wearing as … more

Shant Shahrigian, New York Daily News (TNS) | 8/22/21

Families of students in Eanes Independent School District gather Tuesday near Westlake High School to demonstrate against face mask mandates in schools. The event was held by the organization Eanes Kids First, led by Jennifer Stevens.

A ripped-off mask and verbal assault: how tensions over changing mask rules spilled over in one Texas school district

The first day of school has always been exhilarating for Tom Leonard, superintendent of Eanes Independent School District in Austin. It’s a day filled with “magical moments,” where … more

By Allyson Waller, The Texas Tribune | 8/20/21

Students wait in line to enter the Peter T. Flawn Academic Center at the University of Texas at Austin last year.

From free tuition to concert tickets, Texas colleges lure students and employees to get vaccinated

The prizes range from a year of free tuition and paid days off to $100 gift cards for the campus cafeteria. But the goal is the same: Convince as many Texas college students, faculty and staff to … more

By Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune | 8/20/21

The Texas Supreme Court’s order Thursday temporarily allows school districts to require face coverings.

Texas Supreme Court temporarily allows school mask mandates to remain

The Texas Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for school districts to require people to wear masks in classrooms — at least for now. For cities, counties and school districts that have defied … more

By Erin Douglas and Joshua Fechter, The Texas Tribune | 8/19/21

Students arrive at Morehead Middle School on Aug. 19, 2021, in El Paso.

Reversing direction, Texas says schools now must notify families of positive COVID-19 cases in classrooms

Texas school districts must now notify teachers, staff and students’ families of positive COVID-19 cases in classrooms or extracurricular or after-school programs, the Texas Education Agency … more

By Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune | 8/19/21

Social distance markers on the ground help enforce COVID-19 safety at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.

Rural schools shut down to keep COVID-19 from overwhelming their small communities

If you get sick in Iraan, a West Texas town with a population of about 1,300, there is a hospital — with 14 beds. There is no critical care, meaning the most that hospital workers can do is … more

By Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune | 8/19/21

President Joe Biden delivered remarks on the nation's COVID-19 response and vaccination program during a speech in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18, 2021.

Joe Biden takes aim at states blocking mask mandates, setting Gov. Greg Abbott up for showdown with feds

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott may soon be fighting a war on two fronts — with local officials and the federal government — to stave off mandatory COVID-19 prevention efforts after the Biden … more

By James Barragán, The Texas Tribune | 8/18/21

Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 18, masks will be required of all teachers, students and staff of Leander ISD.

UPDATED: Leander ISD orders masking requirements effective Wednesday, Aug. 18

In the face of burgeoning campus-level COVID-19 infections, the Leander Independent School District today ordered a temporary, district-wide mask requirement effective Wednesday, Aug. 18. more

Richard Stone | Editor at Large | 8/18/21

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, listens as Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran speaks during a news conference at Bayview Elementary School on Oct. 7, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/TNS)

Florida may withhold funds and remove school board members over masks

As more school districts in Florida consider stricter mask mandates, the state Board of Education is threatening severe penalties for two districts that tried, including Broward Schools. more

Scott Travis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (TNS) | 8/17/21

Judith Anderson-Bruess led the Youth and Government class in McKinney from 2005 until her retirement two months ago.

Texas’ controversial new social studies law prompts McKinney school officials to cancel Youth and Government class

McKinney school officials long took pride in their students’ participation in the nationwide Youth and Government program, calling the district a “perennial standout”. more

By Jason Kao, The Texas Tribune | 8/17/21

Leander ISD will host its next free vaccine clinic on Thursday, Sept. 2 at the LISD Technology Building.

LISD to host free vaccine clinic on Sept. 2

Leander ISD will hold a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the LISD Technology Building (315 S. West Drive, Leander) from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. First and second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer … more

From Staff Reports | 8/16/21

Fifth graders at Jacob’s Well Elementary School in Wimberley perform a reading exercise on their laptops in 2020.

“The rebellion is spreading”: After local Texas officials defy his ban on mask mandates, Gov. Greg Abbott begins to clamp down

As Texas students too young to get vaccinated head back to school while the highly contagious delta variant threatens to overflow hospitals, a growing cadre of local government officials have … more

By Joshua Fechter and Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune | 8/11/21

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to call for a $772.2 million bond on the Nov. 2 election ballot.

Nov. election ballot to include LISD bond

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees voted Thursday to put a bond election on the Nov. 2 election ballot. The bond will cost $772.2 million over a three-year cycle, instead of the $933.4 million … more

Lilly Chandler | HCN Reporting Intern | 8/11/21

The first day of school is Thursday, Aug. 12. Parents can submit "First Day of School" photos to LISD's communications team.

Back-to-school guide for LISD parents

As we enter August, families are gearing up for the new school year. This year, classes in Leander ISD will be fully in-person. Here is a guide for parents with LISD students. more

Lilly Chandler | HCN Reporting Intern | 8/10/21

The LISD Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting on Friday, Aug. 13 at 12 p.m. to consider approval of funding for the additional students in remote learning.

BREAKING: LISD expands remote learning

Leander ISD will be expanding its remote learning program for approximately 2,025 additional students currently on the waitlist in grades K – 6 through Oct. 8. (end of the first 9 weeks). LISD … more

From Staff Reports | 8/10/21

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