6 minute read
In Community
City of Austin Begins Construction on Fire/EMS Station on Edge of Campus
As part of its efforts to improve fire department and emergency medical services (EMS) response times, the City of Austin recently embarked on a program to build new joint fire/EMS stations in five areas identified as having immediate needs for better coverage. These five areas include Del Valle/Moore’s Crossing, Travis Country, Loop 360/ Davenport, Goodnight Ranch and Canyon Creek.
The city approached St. Stephen’s in 2020 with a request to build a new station on campus, which offers an ideal location and ample space for the Loop 360/Davenport area. A series of discussions ensued that included the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, which owns the land on which campus is situated. As discussions progressed, city officials hosted several in-person meetings and conference calls with local community members to share proposed design plans, as well as respond to questions and concerns.
According to the terms of the agreement, the city entered into a 40-year lease with the Diocese to build and operate a fire/EMS station on a two-acre plot of land located on the northeast corner of the St. Stephen’s campus. Fire and EMS vehicles will enter and exit the station directly off Westlake Drive. Construction began in December 2021 and is expected to continue for about 16 months, with no disruption to school operations and minimal, if any, impact on traffic coming into and out of school.
“The safety and well-being of our school community is the primary reason that St. Stephen’s entered into this land-use partnership,” said Head of School Chris Gunnin. “The new station will ensure rapid response should an emergency happen on our campus. We also view this project as an opportunity to be a good community citizen, as it will also decrease fire/ EMS response times to residents and businesses in the area.”
—david e. perryman, ph.d., chief marketing and communications officer
MEET OUR NEW TRUSTEES
“l was motivated to be part of the board to bring in a voice of a home-grown Latino of Mexican American descent. One of my primary concerns is to channel quality education and attention toward the formation of quality leaders among the youth and young adults of the Mexican American communities in Texas.”
The Rev. Albert R. Rodriguez joined the board in August 2021 and serves on the governance committee. His background includes serving in Anglo and Latino parishes and social services ministries, and teaching Latino ministry competency on a national level. He is founding director of El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission in Austin.
Yasmine Smith ’12 joined the board in August 2021 and serves on the campus committee. She is founding member and managing partner of Abundance Law PLLC, where she assists clients with business incorporation, estate and probate law, oil and gas contracts, and real estate issues. Additionally, she is director of development/partnerships and director of justice/advocacy for the Austin Area Urban League.
Martin Taylor joined the board in August 2021 and serves on the finance committee. He is managing director and president of OneVista at Vista Equity Partners. Taylor sits on the Vista flagship funds’ investment committee and the private equity management committee. He is the parent of Zach ’19, Zoe ’19 and Ella ’22.
Mandy Borer Parents’ Association president, joined the board in August 2021 and serves on the advancement committee. She grew up in Houston and played soccer at Texas Christian University before embarking on a career in nursing. Borer and husband Drake are parents of Hawkins ’22 and Trinity ’23.
“We all have a responsibility to do our part to ensure that as many kids as possible have access to an inspiring and transformative school experience. St. Stephen’s has been just that and more for my two children. I want to do whatever I can to pay it forward and serving on the board has given me this opportunity.”
Christopher J. Oddo joined the board in 2019 and has served as executive chair since 2020. He is co-owner and managing partner of Barron, Adler, Clough and Oddo LLP. A past-president of the Austin Bar Assn., Oddo founded the Capital Area Private Defender Service, a nonprofit that provides legal services for indigent defendants. He and wife Karey Nalle Oddo ’90 are parents of Harrison ’24 and Katie ’25.
RECONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY
The Parents’ Association (PA) is dedicated to supporting the St. Stephen’s mission, which includes a commitment to sustaining a diverse, inclusive parent organization. In support of this objective, all school parents are automatically members of the PA. We strive to create an environment in which every parent and student feels included and connected to something bigger than themselves.
Coffee Under the Trees
Parents have been gathering every Friday morning for Coffee Under the Trees (CUTT) to catch up with one another, listen to guest speakers and hike together around campus. If you have not had an opportunity to stop by for coffee after morning drop-off, we hope you can soon. Big thanks to Martin Foster for hosting CUTT.
Spartan Spirit Week
Spirit Week is held in September every year and includes five days of themed costumes coordinated by Middle School and Upper School students. It culminated this year with a Friday morning pep rally and scavenger hunt. After school on Friday, we had a huge turnout for the PA-sponsored Spartan Block Party and the Campus Cookout, and then wrapped up the day with multiple athletic events. The week was full of excitement, intensity, joy and Spartan spirit. Thank you to Laura Burkhart, Liz Seade, Ellen Navarre, Remi Ratliff, Katie Marye, Trevor Detling, Alison Chang and Sage Dining Services for all their help with the week’s events.
Fall Fiestas
We were happy to host two parent socials on campus in October. The events were a chance to get together as adults, meet new parents and reconnect with people we had not seen in a while. We also lucked out with beautiful weather each night, and both evening events were well attended. Thank you so much to Robin Chapman, Karen Lundquist, Robert Whyburn and Sage Dining Services. The evenings were perfect and could not have happened without them.
Munira Bhaidani, Shahin Chauthani, Gita Lal, Rushmi Kumar and Avani Parikh Vije
Diwali Festival of Lights
Our November Diwali celebration was a wonderful event as well. Students and faculty participated in a special Chapel service and then enjoyed a delicious Indian meal in the school dining hall. Other fun activities included henna tattoos and a performance by the Thunder Drums. Thanks go to Avani Parikh Vije, Shahin Chauthani, Rushmi Kumar, Munira Bhaidani, Gita Lal, Dhvani Sethi, Trevor Detling and Sage Dining Services for making this event so fun.
As always, we welcome and encourage all parents to get involved in the PA. It is a great opportunity to get to know other people in the community.
—mandy borer, parents’ association president, 2021–22
