ConnectLHTX Spring 2023

INTRODUCING THE NEW HOMESTEAD AMENITY CENTER

Attention, campers: Construction is underway at our brand-new Homestead amenity center, Ranch Camp! So round up your camp crew, get to know your neighbors (Ranch Code No. 3), and take your pick of abundant recreation. It’s a little bit summer camp. A little bit oasis. And it’s all for you.

Connecting Liberty Hill

The secret is out.

Thousands of families have discovered our once small town, enrolled their children in Liberty Hill’s exceptional public schools, and are enjoying the space that previously defined us as a mostly rural community.

“Fast growth community” are the new buzz words used to describe us today as the Liberty Hill Independent School District and the City of Liberty Hill work together to make room for everyone and improve the quality of life here.

As the community’s newspaper, The Liberty Hill Independent is proud to be involved in a unique collaboration with the school district and the City to produce the first edition of Connect LHTX Magazine. Our shared goal with this publication is to educate our hometown on exciting changes happening here, and to encourage those new to the community to become involved in the schools and city government. Find a way to make a difference as we work together to grow in a positive way, creating a path for an exciting future here on the Shin Oak Ridge.

In this edition, learn more about our school district’s enrollment and the impact of population growth on each campus. Voters in LHISD will participate in an important bond election in May to consider building additional schools and expanding existing ones to address the immediate and future growth.

At the same time, the school district is investing in career, technology, as well as fine arts programs offering students more choices as they explore options for their future.

Keeping our schools and community safe continues to be a top priority in Liberty Hill. From keeping campuses secure to maintaining safe roadways, LHISD and City leaders are focused on maintaining a safe environment for our families, and planning for the future is the key.

Learn more about the place you call home, and stay connected with us as we build a better community.

– Shelly Wilkison, Publisher

6 | LHISD ENROLLMENT

Preparing for unprecedented growth

8 | CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Preparing students for college, careers

10 | MANAGING GROWTH IN LIBERTY HILL

Planning for the future, protecting the past

12 | IMPROVING LIBERTY HILL ROADS

City identifies top

A Publication of Texas Independent News Corp.

UNIVERSITY

Bridging the gap between community, local government

ABOUT OUR COVER

PUBLISHER | Shelly Wilkison GRAPHICS | Bonnie James, Kylie Cortez

ADVERTISING SALES | Stacy Coale, Kristin Coulter

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS | Kylie Cortez, Katie Amsler, Rachel Madison

The information in this publication was compiled with great care to assure the accuracy of editorial content and advertising copy. Texas Independent News Corp. assumes no liability for the accuracy of the information reported to us herein, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. For advertising rates and information, or to obtain additional copies, call (512) 778-5577 or send email to news@LHIndependent.com. This publication is a collaborative effort of experienced journalists, a professional design team, and advertising specialists from The Liberty Hill Independent, as well as representatives from Liberty Hill ISD and the City of Liberty Hill who are passionate about sharing the story of Liberty Hill, Texas. Copyright©2023 Texas Independent News Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.

The Liberty Hill ISD and the City of Liberty Hill are working together to make our community a special place with a familycentered focus. Together, we’re working to build champions in Liberty Hill. Some of them include those in our cover photo, which was taken recently on Main Street: Sean McKeon, Nischay Parwar, Ella Pogue, Carson Riley, Arden Daugherty, Jen Daugherty, Brayden Listi, Anna Jenkins, Heather Hebdon, Drue Johnson and Spencer Ballew. Photo by Alex Rubio

Proud to Support the Liberty Hill Independent School District

Among one of the fastest growing areas in Central Texas, Liber ty Hill and the Liber ty Hill Independent School District is still a small town community at hear t. With the unprecedented growth, Liber ty Hill ISD has worked to expand, renovate and build new facilities, while still maintaining the tight-knit community connectiveness that is vital to the city. Langan has been for tunate enough to provide a wide range of engineering ser vices for over a dozen projects with Liber ty Hill ISD and have several others under way or in the planning stages

Langan provides an integrated mix of engineering and environmental geotechnical, and environmental engineering; landscape architecture; sur veying/geospatial; digital solutions; and natural resources & permitting. We have provided multidisciplinar y engineering ser vices for over 300 K-12 schools in Texas and over 2,000 K-12 schools across the countr y . From rural public schools to urban char ter schools, Langan possesses the skills and experience necessar y to ensure a collaborative approach with clients that results in a realistic end-result for the educational system.

Contact:

Jack Garner, Jr., PE, Associate Principal | jgarner@langan.com

UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH LHISD PREPARES FOR

Williamson County named fastest growing county in the nation

By Kylie Cortez, Liberty Hill ISD

Rapid population growth can elicit a wide range of reactions and opinions among community members. Many people get excited about the thought of new restaurants, convenient access to retail stores, great schools, and the amenities that come with living in a newlydeveloped suburban town. Others lament the idea of increased traffic, new housing developments, and a CVS or Starbucks on every corner. Regardless of one’s opinion, there are no signs that the current growth is going to slow any time soon.

The U.S. Census Bureau shows that

between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021, both Georgetown’s and Leander’s populations grew by over 10 percent, the fastest in the country for communities of more than 50,000. These communities mirrored the growth seen in Round Rock, which routinely has been named one of the fastest-growing cities in America.

Rapid growth for the next 10 years

Liberty Hill ISD added more than 1,500 new students during the 2021-22 school year, and more than 1,000 new students this fall, representing a growth rate of more than 23 percent.

The district is projected to enroll

over 13,000 students by 2026 and over 18,600 students by 2031. Zonda Demographics ranked LHISD as the third fastest-growing school district in the Austin area behind Leander ISD and Georgetown ISD. The district had nearly 2,600 new home starts last year and closings on nearly 2,100 homes. The district boasts nearly 2,000 vacant developed lots and over 10,500 future lots to build on.

“I believe families are moving here for the school district and also to live in a smaller community outside of Austin,” said LHISD Board President Megan Parsons. “You have that small-town country feel while being close enough to enjoy the city life and great job market that Austin offers.”

The over 2,000 annual closings in LHISD exceeded Hays CISD, Pflugerville ISD, Austin ISD, Hutto ISD, Del Valle ISD, Manor ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, and other fast-growth communities.

“The growth, while challenging, is very exciting,” said LHISD Superintendent Steve Snell. “The growth brings opportunities to provide excellent educational opportunities and new programs to help keep our students competitive in a global economy.”

While growth brings with it immense challenges, district leaders are committed to maintaining a culture focused on individual students.

“Many challenges come with rapid enrollment growth. Classroom capacity, hiring quality teachers, transportation,

Fighting Panther Club is a tradition where elementary students run the field before each varsity football game.

(Photo by Kylie Cortez)

instructional supplies, attendance boundaries to balance enrollment, and staying ahead of the growth with construction and bonds,” said Snell. “The greatest challenge is preserving the culture of this great district and the small-town feel. Thankfully, the core values of LHISD and the tenets of the strategic plan help guide us through those challenges and keep us focused on the main thing, which is our students.”

Snell points out that the small-town atmosphere is a core value and one that the administration and staff will continue to maintain.

“The district is growing, but children only attend one school at a time. We focus on campus culture and classroom culture as much as district culture. We all need to live our vision to Build Champions in Academics, Character, and Community. We celebrate student success and effort. We also purposefully create opportunities to engage with families and help them be a part of their student’s education and experiences.”

of these schools and may need more schools sooner than anticipated to keep up with the rapid enrollment growth.

“The goal of our long-range planning and bond programs is to prepare for the growth and build on a schedule so that schools are ready in time for students and no new portables will be needed,” said Snell. “Last year, we saw an unprecedented growth of almost 25 percent. That massive increase forced us to place portables at most campuses.”

Snell noted that portables are used as a temporary solution for accommodating enrollment at overcrowded schools, but that as new campuses are opened, they are removed.

Ensuring success in the classroom

Despite the unprecedented enrollment growth district

district analyzes enrollment projection data to determine future staffing needs, and we hire the highest quality teachers possible.”

The district is also focused on developing engaging and student-driven learning environments.

“We collect feedback from our students, staff, and community during our initial design phase to assist in the development of the design of our schools. Our vision of effective teaching and learning is centered around the Liberty Hill ISD Profile of a Panther. We design spaces promoting these profile traits, including collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving for our students. As we design our campuses, we look at current and future program needs and we are purposeful in creating flexible spaces that can adapt and adjust to

Amy is a proud Liberty Hill resident with two children attending local schools. She gives back by volunteering in our community and sponsoring LHHS football, marching band, theatre and the Liberty Hill Fair and Rodeo.

Career & Technical Education prepares students for college, careers

With 10 career clusters and 15 programs of study, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Liberty Hill ISD is preparing students for college and thriving careers, right out of high school.

Opportunities to pursue careers that go beyond the traditional classroom begin as early as eighth grade, with three courses available at each middle school campus. When students reach high school, the choices expand to 74 CTE courses across a broad range of career fields, including:

• Architecture and Construction

• Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

• Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications

• Business, Marketing, and Finance

• Education and Training

• Health Science

• Hospitality and Tourism

• Law and Public Service

• Manufacturing

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

As CTE course offerings and the LHISD student population have grown, so have the number of students taking advantage of the program. Currently, just over half of LHISD eighth graders and 90 percent of Liberty Hill High School students are enrolled in a CTE course. By the time they graduate, 99 percent of LHHS students will have taken at least one CTE course.

“Our fastest growing CTE programs of study are Animal Science, Welding, Business Management and Marketing, and Engineering,” said CTE Coordinator Deah Twine. “Our Forensic Science course is also growing exponentially each year.”

With that rapidly growing student population and booming interest in CTE, ensuring that LHISD can accommodate every student in his or her field of interest can be challenging.

“It takes hard work and flexibility,” said Twine, “but, our teachers and administrators are always willing to problem solve and figure out ways to accommodate our students so they have the best CTE experience possible.”

CTE Facilities

An essential component in providing that experience lies in facilities that help foster hands-on learning for students. Twine said that the presence of such facilities accommodates student participation

Nursing students learn how to care for patients, providing routine care procedures, maintaining medical records, and disease and pain management. (Photo by Kylie Cortez)

The introduction to welding program emphasizes basic welding technology, laboratory principles and operating procedures. (Photo by Kylie Cortez)

Story and Graphic by Kylie Cortez, Liberty Hill ISD

in simulations that better prepare them for the industry standards and practices beyond LHHS.

Current CTE facilities include a residential and commercial kitchen for culinary arts, two health science labs that simulate hospital and pharmacy experiences, an agriculture barn where students house and care for FFA project livestock, an engineering lab in which students apply robotics to solve real-world problems, an animal science lab that mirrors a veterinary clinic, and a simulated board room and collaborative space for entrepreneurship.

In addition, there are computer labs for animation and computer science, and the LHHS construction and welding shops will be the focus of expansion projects in the spring of 2023.

Twine said that a second high school will provide an “incredible opportunity to expand on the experiences we currently offer and could potentially offer to our students.”

LHHS students with dreams of becoming veterinarians get a head start with LHISD’s vet program. (Photo by KVUE)

“Ideal CTE facilities and spaces are those that allow for innovation, flexibility, and growth,” Twine added. “We must be able to keep up with our increasing population, advancements in technology, and constant changes in the industry. With all of that being said, no facility or space can take the place of passionate educators and realworld learning experiences.”

Real-world career connections

LHISD’s goal is that students who enter the CTE program will graduate with the tools necessary to be successful, whether pursuing post-secondary education or directly entering the workforce. In addition to state-of-the-art facilities, a second vital component toward that goal is to provide authentic connections with professionals in the industry.

“That connection is made in the classroom by hiring former business professionals as teachers and by bringing in current business professionals to talk about their field,” said CTE Director Travis Motal.

“We also foster these connections outside of the classroom by allowing our students to leave campus and participate with local businesses to learn the trade through hands-on experiences and by applying what they have learned in the classroom. This gives each student a unique experience in the area or field they are interested in,” Motal said.

Industry certifications

A third essential component of the CTE program is the opportunity for students to earn industry certifications while in high school, throwing open the door to immediate employment opportunities right out of high school.

LHHS students currently have access to 17 possible professional certifications.

“Each year we evaluate the certifications we offer,” said Twine. “We involve our industry partners through our CTE Advisory Committee to help determine the best possible options for our students.”

Twine said that in addition to the district’s evaluation of certification opportunities, they also evaluate the courses LHISD offers, by examining input from the CTE Advisory Committee, student interest, and workforce trends.

“Next school year, we will be offering a few new courses,” Twine said. “Floral design, audio/video production, and a course that will partner with a local technology firm to provide training to students who will then be able to provide technical support to students and teachers on campus.”

Student success

The CTE program helps students chart a course for college and career and equips them to pursue it. Many are doing just that.

“One of our current animation students has been accepted in the Texas A&M University Animation program and will enroll in the

fall of 2023,” Twine said. “We have several students studying engineering, one of whom is currently enrolled in the University of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering and was accepted to the program right out of high school.”

LHHS graduates who participated in CTE courses are currently enrolled in college to become teachers, and a student who participated in culinary arts is now studying at Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.

“Almost all of our welding students who graduated last May have pursued a career in the field and are successfully employed as welders,” Twine said. “Many of our industry partners employ our students upon graduation and even hire and train them while they are still students in our programs.”

Whether they aim for college or career, or both after high school, LHISD is working to bring the world to our students’ doorsteps, and to prepare them to confidently take the next step in pursuit of their dreams.

Blake Boren

Managing growth in Liberty Hill

Planning for the future, protecting the past

By Rachel Madison Liberty Hill Independent Staff Writer

Liberty Hill is growing—and fast. While a lack of practical planning in the past left a void on City resources and infrastructure, City officials in recent years have resolved to be proactive and strategic in managing growth.

From adopting a new comprehensive plan that will guide the City through 2040, to updating the master plan for the City’s parks, officials are working to make sure every department has what it needs to be proactive with current and future growth, said City Administrator Paul Brandenburg.

“All this work has been building the foundation for our organization and the community to control growth and our destiny for what we want Liberty Hill to be,” he said. “Over the next 10 months, you will start to see external projects across Liberty Hill being constructed.”

Comprehensive Plan/Unified Development Code

The biggest initiative the City is currently working on is the update of the comprehensive plan and the unified development code. This plan, last updated in 2014, serves as the road map for every aspect of the City’s future.

“The comprehensive plan shows how we, not just staff, council or citizens, but the City as a whole, want to develop moving forward,” said Jerry Millard, director of planning.

“Citizen input throughout these phases is very important,” Millard said. “We encourage citizens to come out and get involved.”

Residents can easily find ways to get involved and learn more about the comprehensive plan update at LHTX2040.com. The update began in fall 2022 and will be adopted and implemented in early 2024.

Roads

The City Council recently approved the use of its street maintenance tax funds to make improvements to City streets over the next three years. Brandenburg said the tax generates about $500,000 annually, but currently, the fund has an influx of approximately $900,000 which will be used for pothole filling, crack sealing, seal coating, and curb and gutter improvements, particularly in downtown Liberty Hill.

“This is not a total redo of the streets, but instead a true maintenance of the City’s older streets,” he said.

Additionally, the Council recently approved an updated transportation improvement plan to guide the City’s growth in the future.

Water and Wastewater

Currently, the City is expanding the South Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant from 2 million gallons per day of capacity to 4 million gallons per day. Other projects the City has planned for the plant over the next few years include the interior finish out of the administration building on the site, concrete paving around the site’s various buildings, and the installation of control valves, drain piping and a centrifuge unit.

A wastewater interceptor line is also being designed, Brandenburg said, which will connect through State Highway 29 to the Fort Tumbleweed development and head north, creating a line that can serve the entire west side of Liberty Hill. He estimated construction will take about 18 months.

In early 2023, City Council also created a seven-member community task force, called LH2O, which consists of members of City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission and Liberty Hill residents. That group’s purpose is to assist the Council with vetting various options for more water to be brought into the City.

In the past, the City has never had

The Liberty Hill City Council includes Mayor Liz Branigan (center), and Council members, from left, Crystal Mancilla, Amanda Young, Chris Pezold, Angela Jones and Will Crossland.

a water and wastewater master plan. Brandenburg said as of spring 2023, the City will have chosen a firm to help create that plan, which will be the guiding document for growth in those departments for the next several years.

Parks and Recreation

In 2022, the City created its first Parks and Recreation department, which is heading up the Memorial Day opening of the City’s pool at City Park.

The swim center will include a pavilion, restrooms, vending and storage spaces, as well as a tanning shelf, a beach entry and a “kiddie cove” for children with splash-pad style amenities. The pool will also have two 25-meter swim lanes.

Another major focus of the new department is on City Park as a whole. The consulting firm Kimley-Horn has been hired to work on a mini-master plan for the park which will be completed by Aug. 1.

“The new department is very enthusiastic about working with the parks and rec board to enhance our existing facilities and seek opportunities to develop future parks and activities,” said Katie Amsler, director of community engagement and communications. “Not only are we in the process of opening

the City’s first swimming pool, but we are also planning for a $1.5 million renovation to City Park.”

Amsler added that in October 2023, the City will also begin creating a parks master plan for future parkland and amenities to better serve Liberty Hill.

Economic Development Corporation

The Economic Development Corp., with the aid of an outside third party, has embarked on a thorough and forward-moving strategic plan that is very near completion, said Mary Poche, economic development director.

“Many city staff, community leaders and existing business people were interviewed for their input and the outcome is thorough and well thought out,” Poche said. “For the next two to five years this plan will be the marching orders for the organization.”

Downtown Development

Creating a downtown strategic plan is another priority. In early 2023, requests for proposal were sent out searching for

firms to assist the City with this plan. Brandenburg estimates a plan will be completed by fall 2023.

City Facilities

One of the biggest future goals is the construction of a Public Safety facility.

“We did an internal study on what the major pressing issues are when it comes to facilities, and that is the police department,” he said. “There is no room for IT, evidence storage or any privacy for interviews and interrogation.”

Brandenburg said the building will also house the Municipal Court and City Council chamber. That opens up the current Municipal Court building on RM 1869, where he hopes to move the planning, code enforcement and building inspection departments.

The tentative location for the new building will be on RM 1869, across the street from the Over the Hill Gang building. Currently, that City-owned property is used for vehicle storage.

CITY NAMES TOP ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR 2023

By Rachel Madison Liberty Hill Independent Staff Writer

The City of Liberty Hill has identified four road improvement projects that will begin in 2023 with the hopes of relieving and streamlining traffic around the community.

City Administrator Paul Brandenburg said that in the past, the City has relied heavily on state and county assistance when it comes to road projects, but that’s not going to be the case anymore.

“I’m not going to use the term that they’ve been failing us, but they have not delivered what they’ve told us they’re going to deliver,” Brandenburg said. “The City Council decided to take responsibility and get these projects done. We have the funds available, and the council has approved these projects, so now we begin the work.”

Brandenburg added that it’s unfortunate that the City has to foot the bill, especially when there had been verbal agreements in the past with Williamson County and TXDOT for some of the project costs to be shared, but that continuing to wait isn’t an option anymore.

“Traffic isn’t going to get better, and just sitting back and complaining isn’t going to make it better,” he said. “We are having to be reactive now, unfortunately, instead of proactive, but we can’t keep waiting.”

Running parallel to these identified projects, Brandenburg said starting in early 2023, funds from the City’s street maintenance tax will start being used to fill and seal cracks and potholes within city limits.

“Right now, we’re in the process of identifying roads within the City that need to be done, in the downtown area especially,” he added. “We will be putting together a plan by next spring to do those improvements on the roads.”

Read on to learn more about the upcoming road projects planned for 2023.

Stonewall Parkway/State Highway 29/Liberty Parke Intersection

The top priority project is creating a four-way lighted intersection on State Highway 29 at Stonewall Parkway with an entrance into the Liberty Parke subdivision.

City Administrator Paul Brandenburg said the project is 99 percent designed and engineered, and the City is working with Classic Bank to get the proper right of way acquisitions and easements for the construction. TxDOT is requiring the bank to eliminate their current driveway on Highway 29 and gain access off Stonewall Parkway.

TxDOT is also requiring pedestrian access across Highway 29, which includes pedestrian ramps and an accessible sidewalk on the north side of the highway.

“We are also working with TxDOT to get the traffic signals ahead of time, before we need them, so that we don’t have to wait on those,” Brandenburg said. “We expect to go out for bid in spring 2023, begin construction in summer 2023, and have the intersection completed by end of 2024. We estimate it’ll take about 18 months to get it done.”

Estimated Completion: Spring 2025

Estimated Cost: $1.5 million

Bill Burden Elementary School

Liberty Parke

Loop 332/County Road 279 Roundabout

The third project the City has determined is necessary is the construction of a roundabout on Loop 332 and County Road 279, right next to Wetzel Park. Administrator Paul Brandenburg said the only hesitation with the project is concerns over whether or not those roads will be more heavily used once construction begins on the 183A Toll Road underneath State Highway 29.

“We are trying to find out what the impact will be from the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority,” he said. “We aren’t sure if traffic will have to go down 279 and through downtown, and we don’t want to be doing construction on a roundabout if that’s going to happen. We would wait until the toll road is finished and traffic goes back to normal.”

Estimated Completion: Project Pending Traffic Analysis After Signal Installation at Loop 332 & RR 1869

Estimated Cost: $2.1 million

Bailey Lane Intersection

Bailey Lane, which is across Highway 29 north of Noble Elementary School, is the second most important project for the City, said Administrator Paul Brandenburg. The plan is to create a four-way lighted intersection to help relieve school-related traffic during peak times. Right now the City is working with the Liberty Hill Independent School District to determine what type of right of way will be needed for the project, he said.

“We are still determining how much property we will need for that intersection,” Brandenburg said. “We also know there will be a very delicate traffic situation with all the buses and drivers dropping off and picking up their students, so we are working with [the school district] to make sure we don’t mess those things up.”

Design and right-of-way for the project is estimated to be completed by March 2023, with bidding and construction starting shortly afterward.

Estimated Completion: Spring 2025

Estimated Cost: $1.8 million

Loop 332/Ranch Road 1869 Turn Lanes

The final priority project for the City is adding turn lanes to the intersection at Loop 332 and Ranch Road 1869.

TxDOT was originally slated to install traffic signals at that intersection in 2022, but due to supply chain issues, the signals have yet to be installed. They are now slated to go vertical in spring 2023.

Administrator Paul Brandenburg said the City plans on waiting until those traffic signals are installed before moving ahead with the turn lane project.

“We want to wait until the signals go up before we add turn lanes,” he added. “TxDOT recommended we observe the traffic once the signal is complete before we move forward to improve traffic flow.”

Estimated Completion: Spring 2024

Estimated Cost: $750,000

/

The Shane T. White Team RE/MAX Town & Country

Kwik Kar Lube & Auto Care Golden Chick

Dairy Queen

Louine Noble Elementary School

LOOP 332/ MAIN STREET MUNROST CR279

The Splash Pad at Wetzel Park

LIBERTYDOWNTOWNLOOP332/ HILL

Parker’s Corner Market

Stubblefield Visitors Center

HWY1869

HWY1869

MAINLOOP332/ STREET

Early Voting

April 24–May 2

Election Day

May 6, 2023

Focused on District Growth, Safety & Security, and Programmatic expansion.

This bond proposal, developed by the community to address student growth, will be presented to voters in Propositions A-C:

PROP A School

• High School #2 Construction

Facilities | $459M

• Elementary #8-9 Design, Site Development, and Construction

• Elementary #10 Design and Site Development

• Construction of new Transportation, Maintenance, and Warehouse Buildings to accommodate district-wide growth

• Expansion of HS Band Hall, Choir Room, Robotics workshop, Cafeteria, and other instructional spaces at LHHS

• Replace all field turf used for physical education at LHHS

• Renovation of facilities for 18+ Program, Success Academy, and Disciplinary Alternative Education Program

• New Audio and Visual Equipment

• Safety & Security compliance upgrades district-wide

• Roofing, HVAC upgrades, and other maintenance repair needs

• Technology infrastucture upgrades

PROP B Technology

| $7.1M

• Laptops, tablets, and other technology devices for students and staff

PROP C Stadium

The Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees has decreased the overall tax rate by 20 cents in the last three years.

If approved by voters, the 2023 Bond will NOT result in a tax rate increase.

TOP PRIORITIES

DISTRICT GROWTH

SAFETY & SECURITY

CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION

Fast Growth District

20,250 Projected New Housing Occupancy by 2032 District Enrollment

Facilities |

• Additional Concession Stand and Restrooms at Panther Stadium

• Turf replacement for Panther Stadium Field

This stadium is utilized by a wide variety of athletic and fine arts student groups including football, track, soccer, band, drill team, cheer, and more.

To learn more, visit: libertyhillisdbond.com

+137% District change from 2022

18,623 10 YR

P fl u g e r i s a n s w e r i n g t h a t q u e s t i o n by p r ob i n g , l i s t e ni n g , a n d l e a r n i n g f r o m y o u r s t o r i e s a n d p e r s p e c t i v e s W i t h t h a t k n o w l ed g e , o u r t e a m w o r k s t h r o u g h d i v e r s e i de a s , t h o u g h t s , a n d op in i on s t o c r e a t e a r c h i t e c t u r a l so l u t i o n s t h a t s p e a k t o y o u r un iq u e c u l t u r e a n d i de a l s

To g e t h e r, we c a n s t r e n g t h e n t h e L i b e r t y H i l l c omm un i t y by im p r o v i n g t h e n a t u r a l a n d p h y si c a l e n v i r o n m en t w i t h

i nn o v a t i v e a r c h i t e c t u r e t h a t r e fl e c t s y o u r g oa l s a n d v a l u e s To g e t h e r, we c a n i n s p i r e a m o r e me a n i ngf u l h u ma n e xp er i e n c e

Student Safety is Priority One for LHISD

Student safety is at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts today, from parents to law enforcement officers to educators.

For Liberty Hill ISD, safety has always been a top priority, and the district employs and continuously evaluates numerous technology measures and physical resources to ensure that students continue to learn in a safe and secure school environment.

Those measures include, but are not limited to:

• additional security fencing at campuses

• upgraded security cameras

• security film on doors

• remodeling older campuses to make them more secure

• rekeying to a single key district

• emergency communications app for all staff, and

• district-wide monitoring of school devices to detect threats and bullying.

“Nearly all entries have access control systems,” said CTE Director Travis Motal.

“We continue to install additional cameras at schools and are currently upgrading all of our cameras that will allow better viewing and easier access to security video.”

In addition to these measures, uniformed school resource officers maintain a physical presence on LHISD campuses, providing a vital layer of security for the district. They perform routine door checks, serve as a resource on legal issues, and perhaps most importantly, establish relationships with staff and students that build trust and open the door to more effective communication if the need to report suspicious activity arises.

To that end, the district has introduced the LHISD Anonymous Reporting program, accessible on the

district homepage and all campus web pages, that allows students or any concerned party to anonymously report to law enforcement any illegal or concerning activity such as bullying, fighting, threats, drugs, weapons, personal safety, vandalism and more.

LHISD is also a member of iWatch Texas, a statewide school safety reporting system that brings together law enforcement and resources to monitor and evaluate concerns and threats to school safety.

In addition to these initiatives, administrators complete established safety routines and weekly checks to ensure that the district’s safety and security plan operates as intended. They implement scheduled staff and student drills throughout the year and respond to unannounced drills that the district coordinates with first responders.

This year, the state of Texas began the implementation of unannounced security checks to test the viability of such systems.

“We had two audits this year and passed both with no concerns reported,” said Motal. “We feel confident that we are ready for any audit the state may ask us to complete.”

Behind the scenes, school counselors develop crucial relationships that support students who may be struggling and are often the first to know of safety concerns that the district needs to be aware of. Identifying students in crisis or dealing with emotional issues, and providing

Story and Graphics by Kylie Cortez Liberty Hill ISD

support and intervention, can be one of the most important components of school safety.

Obviously, many people play an important role in the effort to keep LHISD schools secure, and in light of that, the district held its first annual School Safety Summit in July to bring together 92 parents, community members, school staff, and first responders for a day-long dialogue about school safety priorities for the district.

“We hosted a guest speaker who highlighted the need for continued efforts for school safety improvements,” said Motal. “The feedback was to focus on communication, training, and reunification.”

Motal said that students and parents can help keep campuses safe by reporting when they have concerns. “When you see something, say something,” he said.

Motal also emphasized the importance of parents engaging in regular conversations with their children about staying safe at school and at outside school events.

“The more these conversations happen on how to stay safe,” said Motal, “the better everyone will be able to respond.”

In its continuous effort to evaluate safety and security measures, the district has established a school safety task force that meets four times a year. LHISD’s long-range planning committee, comprised of staff, parents, and community members, also meet to prioritize future school safety initiatives that future bond dollars can support, including:

• reorganize all campus secure entry vestibules so that most transactions can be completed without the visitor entering the school

• continue to add security cameras to cover all interior and exterior areas

• add secure fencing around all campuses

• add security film to all entries and exterior windows.

LHISD’s ongoing work to keep students safe is an effort that involves students, staff, parents, law enforcement, and the broader community. Student safety is the district’s top priority, and it will continue to be going forward.

Uniformed school resource officers maintain a physical presence on LHISD campuses, providing a vital layer of security for the district. (Photo by Kylie Cortez)

Students thrive in Fine Arts programs

From elementary to high school, Liberty Hill ISD students are finding opportunities to thrive in a Fine Arts department that includes band, choir, dance, theatre and art.

“We have wonderful Fine Arts programs in LHISD that are definitely growing,” said Liberty Hill High School art teacher Susan Barnes. “Our programs support those creative students who want to explore, learn and achieve excellence in the fine arts, whether it be band, choir, music, theatre, visual arts or dance. LHISD Fine Arts programs are valued and continue to grow and showcase the talents of our students.”

Currently, fine arts programs at the middle school and high school levels boast strong enrollment numbers.

The district expects numbers to continue to grow in the coming years among these elective courses that provide even more than the opportunity to develop talent in an extracurricular pursuit. They also instill discipline, grit and

character in a setting that fosters genuine relationships and community.

Liberty Hill High School Band Director Shawn Murphy said that in a season of success that included top honors at multiple marching competitions this year and the title of UIL 5A Area H Champion, his goal is not only greater future achievement but to build the program the right way.

“More important than what we’ll achieve, is how we’ll achieve it; that’s my highest priority,” Murphy said.

Even with the success the marching band enjoyed during their own

competition season, Murphy points with satisfaction to the role they played during the football season.

“What I am most proud of is how our band selflessly and passionately supported our football team during their playoff run this season, culminating in the team’s third straight state semi-finals appearance,” he said.

When Murphy came to LHHS to serve as band director in the fall of 2021, the program had about 90 students. Over the past two years, that number has grown to more than 130. “And, we are looking forward to more growth in the near future and beyond,” Murphy said.

With that growth, his vision for future success includes 250+ members “that consistently advance to the finals of the most prestigious state and national competitions year after year with 50 All-Region musicians, 25 Area musicians and 12+ All-State musicians.”

“Through hard work, being kind to one another, and having some fun along the way, we’ll get there together soon,” he said.

Visual Arts Scholastic Event recognizes exemplary achievement by providing art students and programs a standard of excellence. (Photo by Kylie Cortez)

The LHHS Marching Band reaches new heights as it competes for the first time at UIL 5A Area H Championship. (Photo by Kylie Cortez)

By Kylie Cortez, Liberty Hill ISD

Vital to future success, however, is the support of the music and band programs that spring from the elementary and middle grades. The importance of skill development in the lower grades is difficult to overstate. Murphy said that it’s virtually impossible to teach a student everything they need to compete at the highest levels of band in Texas if they wait until high school to begin learning an instrument.

“Elementary general music classes and middle school feeder band programs are the lifeblood of any high school band,” Murphy said. “Getting the students started with the building blocks of music performance and literacy in the earlier grades certainly makes our jobs at the high school much more achievable.”

Equally vital to success during the rapid growth of the past two years has been the support of the school board, administrators and the booster clubs.

“So far, we’ve been able to keep pace with rising enrollment without any issues,” Murphy said. “We will definitely need additional rehearsal space, more instruments, storage, uniforms, and additional fine arts staff members as we continue to grow.”

It has also been a season of growth and success in the dance department for the LHHS Liberty Belles. Dance teacher Kenna Priore joined the program two years ago. Since then, she has seen the number of girls on the varsity Belles double in size,

and Priore said that 2022-2023 has been a great year that began with the team attaining new levels of success before the school year even began.

“At camp, we scored in the secondhighest bracket out of five, and that was a new achievement for us,” she said. “We were also voted the most disciplined team!”

The addition of a middle school drill team program will help the high school program continue to grow, and the middle school drill teams have been incorporated into halftime performances at football games.

Priore said that a large, new studio last year that they share with cheer, dance, and color guard has been a great addition to the program. When space is an issue, the three groups work together to make it all happen.

“If I was thinking big,” Priore said of future growth, “I think it would be really cool to have a fine arts gym for us to use!”

The theme of growth pops up across all the fine arts programs, and space is at a premium in the area of visual arts as well.

“Some challenges that we face now with the growth are larger class sizes and limited space for new classrooms/areas for the Fine Arts,” said Barnes. “Adjusting and improving on arts technology trends to support using digital art and musical or production media platforms is also a definite need and can be costly as well.”

As with the music programs, students have the opportunity to take their first steps into visual art in the elementary grades, where the district’s art teachers lay the foundation that the middle and high school art teachers will build upon.

“As a high school teacher,” said Barnes,

Our programs support those creative students who want to explore, learn and achieve excellence in the Fine Arts.

– Susan Barnes, Liberty Hill High School Art Teacher

“it is vital to have students bringing previous experience in the visual arts. Each stage of artistic development and exploration draws on the next and supports students to reach the elite levels in their artwork for district and area displays and art competitions.”

LHISD now has four art teachers at the high school level, two at each of the middle schools and one at each of the elementary schools. What the district has invested in the developmental grades has paid dividends once those young artists reach high school.

Barnes’ account of student accolades in visual arts at LHHS is impressive, including Regional, Area and State medals at the Texas Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE), Gold Key Awards at the Scholastic Art and Writing Contest and more.

“Having a great foundation in the early years through middle school into high school sets those students up for success!” Barnes said.

The district is working diligently to keep pace with the growth and growing space and technology needs of the district’s fine arts programs with building additions on several campuses and plans for new schools.

“But, it is still challenging to keep up with the fastpaced growth and to have the funding to support all needs,” Barnes said.

In spite of those challenges, the district remains committed to fine arts education for its students as interest and participation continue to abound across the district.

In the words of Shawn Murphy, “The future is bright for the Fine Arts in Liberty Hill!”

Graphic by Kylie Cortez

Do you live in the Liberty Hill city limits?

The City of Liberty Hill is very small geographically, but residents of a much broader area rightfully consider themselves a part of the community. While the entire Liberty Hill community is very important to the culture and identity of our town, only residents who reside

inside the city limits pay tax dollars to the City. These citizens receive certain City services in return. According to newly-released data from the Texas Demographic Center, the latest population of Liberty Hill is 8,777 -- a 140% increase since the 2020 census.

City of Liberty Hill Events 2023

Water Tower Kickstart

May 20

Oct 21

Oct 28

July

Dec 9

CHAMPIONS BUILDING

IN ACADEMICS, CHARACTER, AND COMMUNITY.

W e a r e a d i s t r i c t t h a t i s c o m m i t t e d t o a c a d e m i c e x c e l l e n c e a n d p r o v i d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r a l l s t u d e n t s i n t h e c l a s s r o o m a n d b e y o n d . O u r s t a f f i s d e d i c a t e d t o p r e p a r i n g f u t u r e - r e a d y g r a d u a t e s , e m p o w e r e d t o l e a d w i t h c h a r a c t e r a n d p u r p o s e C o l l e c t i v e l y , w e s t r i v e f o r a u n i f i e d c o m m u n i t y t h a t a l l o w s o u r s t u d e n t s t o b e e n g a g e d i n s o m e t h i n g b i g g e r t h a n t h e m s e l v e s .

The City of Liberty Hill is Working for You

• Mayor & City Council Members serve three-year terms with elections in May. Candidates must reside in city limits.

• City Council Meetings are the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 6:00 pm at Municipal Court. Residents may attend in person or watch live online.

• Council appoints members of boards and commissions to 2-year terms. Members serve as advisors.

• Downtown Revitalization Committee

• Planning & Zoning Commission

• Parks & Recreation Board

• Economic Development Corporation

• LH2O Task Force

• Public Works Commission

• Charter Advisory Committee

• Board of Adjustments

Liberty Hill University bridging the gap between community, local government

By Rachel Madison Liberty Hill Independent Staff Writer

In 2022, the City of Liberty Hill launched a new program to bridge the gap between community and local government.

The program, called Liberty Hill University, began in fall 2022 and graduated its first class in February 2023.

Katie Amsler, director of community engagement and communications, said the program is a five-session course where community members can come together to learn more about city government functions, services and different departments.

“There were a couple of different goals and reasons for starting this program,” she said. “One being we thought this program would give us valuable feedback into the priorities and needs of residents and what they want to see happen in Liberty Hill. We also wanted to educate the public on how the City operates in the hopes those people could become advocates and educate others. When there is misinformation out there, it’s nice to have people who understand to help spread awareness.”

Amsler added that another reason for starting the program is City officials felt it would be an effective way to build new leaders.

“We hope to encourage people to join our various boards or commissions, or

even run for City Council in the future,” she said.

The program runs over five months, with one session occurring each month. The sessions cover general government and finance; water and wastewater infrastructure; police; parks and recreation; and planning and zoning. Each of these departments’ directors works to make the sessions interactive, collaborative and fun, so that community members of any age can participate and learn. Following the five sessions, a graduation event is held for the program’s participants.

Erin McCollough and her 10-year-old daughter, Lark Lange, were both a part of Liberty Hill University’s first graduating class.

“This was a really great opportunity to learn more about good civic government and what is involved in running a city,” McCollough said. “I was very interested in learning how Liberty Hill will be managing the tremendous growth in our area. My daughter and I both learned a lot, and we were surprised by the scope of what’s involved in running a city.”

McCollough said participating in the program was absolutely worth it.

“We learned the good, the bad and the ugly about running a city and I really got a sense that the people who are working

for our city genuinely care and are taking community feedback into consideration as they plan for growth,” she added. “It definitely inspired me to get more involved.”

Katy Heng, a Realtor with SkyRealty, was also a graduate in Liberty Hill University’s first class.

“With the growth that has happened over the last three to five years, I wanted to have a better understanding of what the city is doing to project and mitigate how the city grows, and I wanted to help be a part of that change if I could,” she said, adding that she would recommend the program to anyone interested in the future of Liberty Hill.

“Anyone who wants to be part of the change and help shape the future of Liberty Hill should absolutely get involved,” she said.

The next Liberty Hill University will begin in August 2023. Because of the program’s initial popularity, there is a waiting list to join. Those interested in participating in a future class can sign up for the waiting list by following the QR Code or visiting www.experiencelhtx. com/lhuniversity.

Liberty Hill Mayor Liz Branigan (center) awarded diplomas to the first graduating class of Liberty Hill University during a special ceremony in February. The graduates spent five months learning the ins and outs of how city government works in Liberty Hill. (Courtesy Photo)

Sign up for Liberty Hill University

Accidents or illnesses can happen at any time. When they do, we are here to offer you access to immediate health care for you and your family.

OUR URGENT CARE SERVICES INCLUDE:

Cold & flu • Cuts & wounds • Allergic reactions

Diarrhea, nausea, or stomach pain • Infections • IVs

Minor injuries & burns • Sprains and/or bone fracture

Severe headache/migraine • High fever • X-rays

Testing (strep, flu, RSV, lab work) ... and more

LIBERTY HILL 13140 W State Hwy 29 512-615-9868

101 Leffingwell Lane 737-283-2825

www.AccessUrgentCare.io