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76537 LIFE
76537 LIFE JISD UPDATE
What a Difference Ten Years Makes
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September 2012 was a big milestone in Jarrell. The school district enrollment reached 1,000 students and more than half of the growth that year was in Pre-K through 4th grade. Just ten years later, enrollment has doubled and is projected to be nearly five times the 2012 number by 2025. Currently, the largest increases are roughly split between the elementary and high school populations, but the highest growth will continue at the elementary level for the next decade.
The Jarrell ISD School Board made its most recent demographic report public and Superintendent Dr. Toni Hicks explained, "The Jarrell community is a highly sought after community. It is typical to see families walking and kids riding bikes in the neighborhood. Jarrell is a great place to raise a family. With the recent passing of our 2021 school bond, we have construction in the works for a new elementary, expanding our middle school and high school, and enhancing our student facilities."
BY THE NUMBERS
Jarrell is currently growing at an annual rate of 7.51 percent and, since the article below was published, our city population has increased by more than 100 percent. Growth continues today with new subdivisions what will add 11,397 new homes zoned for Jarrell and Igo Elementary Schools. Development continues to our south as well and three new Georgetown subdivisions are zoned for Jarrell ISD. Current demographics and projections indicate1:
�The ISD increased by 573 students in 2021—a 24.9 percent growth rate. �JISD has 15 active and 9 future subdivision builds. �More than 1,100 homes closed in 2021 in the district boundary. �Groundwork is underway on more than 1,960 lots within the district boundary. �There are likely to be 1,200-1,400 new homes per year by 2026. �JISD can expect to enroll more than 6,100 students by 2026-27 and nearly 10,000 by 2031-32.
1 Zonda Education
More Than PaTienT Care
Jarrell Medical Clinic
They say it takes a village to raise a child and the people at Jarrell Medical Clinic take that phrase to heart, then put it into practice, every day. They have no higher priority than taking care of the patients who come into their office. What’s more, everyone at Jarrell Medical Clinic strives to make patients feel like they are part of the family. Long before Dr. Ramiro Peña became a surgeon, he was ordained as a Baptist Minister and served as pastor for several churches with the intent to be a medical missionary. While still in training for his medical degree he was drafted into the Air Force as a thoracic surgeon in the Vietnam War.
Dr. Peña later became an accomplished and well-known trauma surgeon at Baylor Scott & White and King’s Daughters Medical Center in Temple and retired after 18 years service there.
He found retirement was not to his liking and decided to apply his gifts in a general practice for families and children at his own Clinic in Salado. “I fell in love with family practice,” he says. “I really found myself again.”
Then Dr. Peña met Christian Munoz, a former paramedic and physician consultant who had recently moved to Austin to begin work in healthcare management. When the two met and discussed their mutual
IT ALL BEGAN WITH TWO CARING INDIVIDUALS — A DOCTOR AND A PARAMEDIC — WHO HAVE A FOCUSED LOVE OF TAKING CARE OF FAMILIES.
(512) 588-1501 • JarrellMedicalClinic.com 180 Town Center Blvd. Suite 400, Jarrell • Next to Brookshire Brothers Supermarket
love of family practice, an idea was formed. In 2019, after Little River Healthcare closed its doors, Munoz founded and is now CEO of the Jarrell Medical Clinic.
Today, the Medical Clinic welcomes patients for walk-in and scheduled appointments, regular checkups, and minor medical emergencies. Dr. Peña treats children as young as two years old as well as their parents and grandparents. Munoz adds, “Everyone is welcome; we will see pretty much everyone—it’s really a practice that’s all about the community.” Jarrell Medical Clinic also welcomes students pursuing a career in healthcare. “Our goal is to pass on the knowledge and caring values to younger generations in an effort to build a better healthcare system, one provider at a time,” he adds.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
As they work here, they live here, and the folks at the Medical Clinic recognize the people in our community have a variety of needs, so they are pleased and proud to be a bilingual practice. Nearly everyone on staff, from the first person to greet patients at the front desk to Dr. Peña himself, speaks Spanish and English to provide the highest level of comfort and confidence possible. Dr. Peña says, “It really helps if you’re able to talk to your medical provider in your first language about all kinds of things. Estamos para servirle a usted y a toda su familia."
Misty Humphreys, Dr. Peña’s nurse since the Clinic’s inception in 2019, adds, “We address everything with a holistic approach. Come to us with any problem or come to us with ten—we’re going to figure out a way to make it work.”
Bilingual Nurse Practitioner Leslie Casachahua, the newest member of the team, also shows her passion for the people of Jarrell every day. She says, “Connecting with the parents, knowing them and their kids’ needs is just like a family working all together.” As Jarrell and the surrounding areas grow larger, she counts the Medical Clinic as one that will provide a special experience for any who need help.
SET APART
While some medical practices find it necessary to meet a daily quota of patients to function, the Jarrell family practice is fortunate to have no such requirements. Every day, Dr. Peña and Leslie give each patient as much time and attention as is necessary. Leslie says, “We talk through symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment options. We do not gloss over symptoms and just reach for the prescription pad.” Dr. Peña adds, “We realize medical terms may be hard to understand so we take the time to make sure patients feel like they know what is happening. Everyone deserves to be treated well by their doctor.”
Munoz also emphasizes that everyone is welcome regardless of financial circumstances; there is a payment plan for everyone. True to this mission, the clinic provides an annual one-day clinic completely free of charge. Free clinics are announced through social media and anyone in the community, insured or not, is welcome to a free checkup. He explains, “Every member of this practice has kids and understands what it means to take care of them in these times. Not feeling alone is encouraging. At Jarrell Medical Clinic, there will never be a time when you don’t feel like a member of our family because our family of patients always comes first.”
