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Looking to 2021for Covid-19 situations in Round Rock schools
ROUND ROCK, Texas – Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) staff, teachers, parents and students – as those in other school districts around the country – have been greatly affected by the disruption in daily lives due to Covid-19.
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Looking toward 2021, the expectation for returning to normal in-classroom attendance will be based on the number of cases of the virus, with hopes that everyone may return to in-classroom instruction, if the cases remain low and the spread under control. This information is based on the plan as noted on RRISD’s website.
RRISD will be under new interim superintendent leadership, with the resignation as of November 30 of Dr. Steve Flores. He remains on staff in a lesser role in the transition period with Dr. Daniel Presley taking over until a new superintendent is hired. If any changes in schooling is made, it will be under Dr. Presley’s direction.
For now, parents have access to a Dashboard on the RRISD website for directions to follow for their children’s learning. They can choose to be taught at home virtually or be in the classroom. A new plan for 2021 will be posted on the RRISD website, with the most recent “On-Campus & Virtual Learning Plans” being published in Fall 2020.
“Families may choose to continue to keep their students in virtual learning for as long as they choose,” as stated on the RRISD website. “They can also move from on-campus learning to virtual learning at any time.”
The district is adhering to safety and cleaning protocols as directed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and local health care agencies. It will continue to do so when the new semester begins, though “...changes to the public health situation in the coming months may necessitate changes to the” TEA guidance.
The school district updates every Friday online the number of current and active cases of Covid-19 among students and employees, with a breakdown by schools of all levels. As of press time, current cases numbered at 123, with total positive cases cumulative at 376, total close contacts current at 190, and total close contacts cumulative at 1,653.
Restaurants & food
trucks in Williamson County offer eclectic flavors
Going out to eat has taken a twisty path since COVID-19 shut down many eat-in restaurants for a time in 2020. Looking ahead to 2021, the following restaurants and food trucks remain open and offer unusual tastes and menu items that are sure to please customers who want something tasty and different this holiday season.
The Oaks at Forest Creek, 95 Twin Ridge Parkway
Serving burgers with names like “Double Bogey” and “Triple Bypass,” hungry customers can eat curbside and on the patio. Soups, salads and chili are also available. There is a breakfast menu and a weekend brunch. Live music is also on the menu, though recently the business went through a rezoning hearing with the City of Round Rock. Fresh waffles, donuts, hash browns and breakfast sandwiches are served during Saturday and Sunday brunch hours.
Rock N Grill – Indian Cuisine & Bar, 1702 N. Mays St., Suite A
This restaurant is part of a chain which says it is “an emerging Indian restaurant for the foodies” in the area. The food cooked here brings aromas, spices and tastes from India, using natural ingredients and meat with no hormones or antibiotics in the preparation. The menu includes curries of goat, lamb, chicken and vegetables. Biryani is sold in single or family-size servings. The restaurant is open seven days a week during lunch and dinner hours.
Snack Room, 1400 E. Old Settlers Blvd.
Bring a sweet tooth and be ready to sugar-up when eating at the Snack Room! With 40 flavors of ice cream, popcorn, spiked shakes and plenty of mix-ins, this business is family-owned. The Snack Room features alcohol-infused flavors for the over-21 crowd, and kid-friendly flavors for the younger set. Touting a hot drink shop, as well, no need to wait for summer to return to enjoy a sweet treat. The business also offers non-dairy shakes for vegans. Orders can be picked up curbside, carryout, or delivered via DoorDash or UberEats. The Snack Room is closed on Mondays.
Hula Pig Hawaiian BBQ, 5430 US Highway 79
Opened in Round Rock in summer 2020. The veteran-owned food truck business offers outdoor seating, takeout, and curbside pickup. Open from Tuesdays through Sunday. The menu includes Hawaiian BBQ dishes made with chicken, shortribs, shrimp, pork and beef burger. Fries, coleslaw, macaroni salad, eggs and rice are also on the menu, along with a Kids’ Meal of chicken tenders and cheeseburgers with fries.
Phase II of Deerbrooke is open and ready for home buyers
LEANDER, Texas – One might think it could be where the deer and the antelope play. After all, it is the Christmas season. If nothing else, children playing can be seen around the Deerbrooke development in Leander.
Phase II of the community opened in the fall of 2020 and is located on the northwest side of the heart of Leander, nestled between North Bagdad Road and State Highway 183. It is convenient to school, shopping, restaurants, parks and just about anything families could want.
“Residents enjoy quick commutes, easy access to relaxing natural landscapes, and all the cultural sophistication a big city offers – whether that’s taking in a downtown restaurant or a local sporting event,” states the Deerbrooke website.
Many types of models are available, ranging from having three to five bedrooms in those built by GFO Home / Meritage Homes. They are energy-efficient, as well, with some ready to move into, while others would be constructed when contracts are signed.
Other award-winning builders include Gehan Homes, Perry Homes, Sitterle Homes and Monticello Homes. Prices range from $350,000 to more than $500,000.
With Austin being in the fastest growing city in the country the past few years, it’s only natural that Leander would also be in the mix of growing communities. In 2010, the Census Bureau showed Leander having grown from a population of 27,697 to 73,000 residents in July 2020.
Deerbrooke also has amenities that families will love, such as a health and fitness center, swimming pool and splash pad, open-air pavilion, fenced dog park, community center, and is surrounded by trails of the Texas Hill Country.
Schools located nearby are Tom Glenn High School, Stacy K. Danielson Middle School and Jim Plan Elementary School. All are part of the Leander Independent School District.
Model homes are open for viewing every day of the week.
The sales office for Deerbrooke is located at 929 Deer Rim Road. The phone number is 512-387-8632.
