ConnectLHTX Spring 2023

Issue One | Spring 2023

Liberty Hill ISD + City of Liberty Hill Publication

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CONTENTS

Connecting Liberty Hill

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he 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 road improvement projects 14 | BUILDING CHAMPIONS

Voters to consider bonds for growth

18 | SAFETY & SECURITY

Student safety is Priority One for LHISD

Challenging youth to explore and achieve excellence

22 | DO YOU LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS? Learn more about Liberty Hill’s city boundaries

24 | CITY TO OPEN SWIM CENTER

City Park pool opens Memorial Day weekend

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28 | CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR YOU

Community service is at the heart of the City of Liberty Hill’s organizational structure

29 | LIBERTY HILL UNIVERSITY

Bridging the gap between community, local government

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.

Spring 2023

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20 | STUDENTS THRIVE IN FINE ARTS

A Publication of Texas Independent News Corp.

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29 ABOUT OUR COVER 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, Liberty Hill and the Liberty Hill Independent School District is still a small town community at heart. With the unprecedented growth, Liberty 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 fortunate enough to provide a wide range of engineering services for over a dozen projects with Liberty Hill ISD and have several others underway or in the planning stages.

12+ Projects with LHISD

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(Austin, Dallas, Tyler, and Houston)

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Founded in 1970

Langan provides an integrated mix of engineering and environmental geotechnical, and environmental engineering; landscape architecture; surveying/geospatial; digital solutions; and natural resources & permitting. We have provided multidisciplinary engineering services for over 300 K-12 schools in Texas and over 2,000 K-12 schools across the country. From rural public schools to urban charter schools, Langan possesses the skills and experience necessary 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

Credit: Huckabee

Technical Excellence | Practical Experience | Client Responsiveness

langan.com

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

(Photo by Kylie Cortez)

LHISD PREPARES FOR UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH Williamson County named fastest growing county in the nation

By Kylie Cortez, Liberty Hill ISD

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apid 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

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Spring 2023

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,

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.”

Voters overwhelmingly supported a bond program in 2021 to build elementary schools #6 and #7, middle school #3, high school #2, district-wide renovations and additions, safety and security, technology, new buses, and more. The new demographic projections, however, indicate that the district will need to accelerate the construction

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 administrators point out that academic rigor and high-quality instruction will remain the focus.

“Staffing is a critical component in our pursuit of academic excellence,” said LHISD Assistant Superintendent Todd Washburn. “We recognize that the teacher is the most important factor that impacts student success. The

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 future needs.”

Growth and change can be difficult, but LHISD staff know that while they have no control over the growth in the district, they have complete control over the culture of the schools and the quality of the instruction, and that should make families optimistic about the future of Liberty Hill ISD.

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Spring 2023

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Career & Technical Education prepares

students for college, careers Story and Graphic by Kylie Cortez, Liberty Hill ISD

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The introduction to welding program emphasizes basic welding technology, laboratory principles and operating procedures.

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

ith 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

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Spring 2023

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 LHHS students with animation and computer science, and the LHHS dreams of becoming construction and welding shops will be the focus veterinarians get a head of expansion projects in the spring of 2023. start with LHISD’s vet Twine said that a second high school will program. (Photo by KVUE) provide an “incredible opportunity to expand on the experiences we currently offer and could potentially offer to our students.” fall of 2023,” Twine said. “We have several students studying “Ideal CTE facilities and spaces are those that allow for innovation, engineering, one of whom is currently enrolled in the University flexibility, and growth,” Twine added. “We must be able to keep up of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering and was accepted to the with our increasing population, advancements in technology, and program right out of high school.” constant changes in the industry. With all of that being said, no LHHS graduates who participated in CTE courses are currently facility or space can take the place of passionate educators and realenrolled in college to become teachers, and a student who world learning experiences.” participated in culinary arts is now studying at Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.

Real-world career connections “Almost all of our welding students who graduated last May LHISD’s goal is that students who enter the CTE program will have pursued a career in the field and are successfully employed graduate with the tools necessary to be successful, whether pursuing as welders,” Twine said. “Many of our industry partners employ post-secondary education or directly entering the workforce. In our students upon graduation and even hire and train them while addition to state-of-the-art facilities, a second vital component they are still students in our programs.” toward that goal is to provide authentic connections with Whether they aim for college or career, or both after high professionals in the industry. school, LHISD is working to bring the world to our students’ “That connection is made in the classroom by hiring former doorsteps, and to prepare them to confidently take the next step business professionals as teachers and by bringing in current business in pursuit of their dreams. 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.”

Blake Boren

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 Spring 2023

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Managing growth in Liberty Hill

Planning for the future, protecting the past

By Rachel Madison Liberty Hill Independent Staff Writer

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iberty 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.

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.

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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

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 Get involved in RM 1869, across future planning the street from the Over the Hill Gang building. Currently, that City-owned property is used for vehicle storage.

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CITY NAMES TOP ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR 2023

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Bill Burden Elementary School

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he 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.

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By Rachel Madison Liberty Hill Independent Staff Writer

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

Bailey Lane Intersection

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Louine Noble Elementary School

Estimated Completion: Project Pending Traffic Analysis After Signal Installation at Loop 332 & RR 1869 Estimated Cost: $2.1 million

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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.”

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Estimated Completion: Spring 2025 Estimated Cost: $1.8 million

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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.

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Stubblefield Visitors Center

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

Spring 2023

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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 Facilities

| $459M

• High School #2 Construction • 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

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

| $7.1M

20,250

Projected New Housing Occupancy by 2032

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

PROP C Stadium Facilities

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

District Enrollment | $5M

• 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.

8,020 2022-23

To learn more, visit: libertyhillisdbond.com 14

Spring 2023

13,101

+137% District change from 2022

18,623

10 YR

5 YR

2027-28

2032-33

Polling

Locations Early Voting:

APRIL 24 - MAY 2 LHISD Gym Annex 301 FORREST ST, LIBERTY HILL, TX

Election Day:

MAY 6 | 7 AM - 7 PM LHISD Gym Annex

301 FORREST ST, LIBERTY HILL, TX

Liberty Hill High School

16500 W STATE HWY 29, LIBERTY HILL, TX

YOUR

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175 ELIZABETH PARK BLVD, LIBERTY HILL, TX

PROP A

SCHOOL FACILITIES

PROP B

TECHNOLOGY DEVICES

PROP C

STADIUM FACILITIES

WWW.LIBERTYHILLISDBOND.COM

Spring 2023

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Pfluger is answering that question by probing, listening, and learning from your stories and perspectives. With that knowledge, our team works through diverse ideas, thoughts, and opinions to create architectural solutions that speak to your unique culture and ideals.

Together, we can strengthen the Liberty Hill community by improving the natural and physical environment with innovative architecture that reflects your goals and values. Together, we can inspire a more meaningful human experience.

Student Safety is Priority One for LHISD Story and Graphics by Kylie Cortez Liberty Hill ISD

S

tudent 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.

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“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

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)

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

Students thrive

in Fine Arts programs

competition season, Murphy points with satisfaction to the role they played during rom elementary to high school, the football season.

Liberty Hill ISD students are “What I am most proud of is how finding opportunities to thrive our band selflessly and passionately in a Fine Arts department that supported our football team during their includes band, choir, dance, theatre playoff run this season, culminating in and art. the team’s third straight state semi-finals “We have wonderful Fine Arts appearance,” he said. programs in LHISD that are definitely When Murphy came to LHHS to serve growing,” said Liberty Hill High School as band director in the fall of 2021, the art teacher Susan Barnes. “Our programs program had about 90 students. Over the support those creative students who past two years, that number has grown want to explore, learn and achieve to more than 130. “And, we are looking excellence in the fine arts, whether it be forward to more growth in the near band, choir, music, theatre, future and beyond,” visual arts or dance. LHISD Murphy said.

Fine Arts programs are With that growth, valued and continue to his vision for future grow and showcase the success includes talents of our students.”

250+ members “that Currently, fine arts consistently advance to programs at the middle the finals of the most school and high school prestigious state and levels boast strong national competitions enrollment numbers. year after year with 50 The district expects All-Region musicians, numbers to continue to 25 Area musicians grow in the coming years and 12+ All-State among these elective musicians.” courses that provide even “Through hard work, more than the opportunity being kind to one to develop talent in another, and having an extracurricular some fun along the way, The LHHS Marching Band reaches new heights as it competes for the pursuit. They also instill we’ll get there together first time at UIL 5A Area H Championship. (Photo by Kylie Cortez) discipline, grit and soon,” he said.

By Kylie Cortez, Liberty Hill ISD

F

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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

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 As with the music programs, students a great year that began with the team have the opportunity to take their first attaining new levels of success before the steps into visual art in the elementary school year even began. grades, where the district’s art teachers “At camp, we scored in the secondlay the foundation that the middle and highest bracket out of five, and that was high school art teachers will build upon. a new achievement for us,” she said. “We “As a high school teacher,” said Barnes, were also voted the most disciplined team!” ur programs support those creative The addition of a middle students who want to explore, school drill team program learn and achieve excellence in will help the high school the Fine Arts. program continue to grow, – Susan Barnes, Liberty Hill and the middle school drill High School Art Teacher teams have been incorporated into halftime performances at football games.

Priore said that a large, new studio last “it is vital to have students bringing year that they share with cheer, dance, previous experience in the visual arts. and color guard has been a great addition Each stage of artistic development to the program. When space is an issue, and exploration draws on the next and the three groups work together to make it supports students to reach the elite levels all happen. in their artwork for district and area “If I was thinking big,” Priore said of displays and art competitions.” future growth, “I think it would be really LHISD now has four art teachers at cool to have a fine arts gym for us to use!” the high school level, two at each of the The theme of growth pops up across all middle schools and one at each of the the fine arts programs, and space is at a elementary schools. What the district has premium in the area of visual arts as well. invested in the developmental grades has “Some challenges that we face now paid dividends once those young artists with the growth are larger class sizes and reach high school. limited space for new classrooms/areas Barnes’ account of student accolades for the Fine Arts,” said Barnes. “Adjusting in visual arts at LHHS is impressive, and improving on arts technology trends including Regional, Area and State to support using digital art and musical medals at the Texas Visual Art Scholastic or production media platforms is also a Event (VASE), Gold Key Awards at the definite need and can be costly as well.”

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!”

O

Graphic by Kylie Cortez Spring 2023

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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 L ETJ Texas Demographic Center, the latest population TY HIL LIBER F O Y of Liberty Hill is 8,777 -- a 140% increase since the CIT 2020 census.

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23 3/8/23 2:08 PM JENN

Summer Pool Passes FAMILY PASSES

Liberty Hill

Pool

CITY PARK | 255 CR 200, LIBERTY HILL, TX 78642

OPENING MEMORIAL DAY!

FAMILY (UP TO 5 PEOPLE RESIDING IN SAME HOUSEHOLD)

ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS

NONRESIDENT

$100

$150

$20

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$50

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$40

$60

VETERAN

$25

$40

Hours of Operation (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

MEMORIAL DAY - LABOR DAY

RESIDENT

WHILE SCHOOL STILL IN SESSION SAT | 10 AM - 7 PM SUN | 1 PM - 6 PM SUMMER CLOSED MONDAYS TUE - SAT | 10 AM - 7 PM SUN | 1 PM - 6 PM

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24

Spring 2023

BRACING PANTHERS FOR SUCCESS SINCE 2011

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BUILDING CHAMPIONS TOGETHER, WE ARE

IN ACADEMICS, CHARACTER, AND COMMUNITY. We are a district that is committed to academic excellence and providing opportunities for all students in the classroom and beyond. Our staff is dedicated to preparing future-ready graduates, empowered to lead with character and purpose. Collectively, we strive for a unified community that allows our students to be engaged in something bigger than themselves.

WWW.LIBERTYHILL.TXED.NET

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Spring 2023

Professional.

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512-800-6353

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Spring 2023

Voted Best Attorney

2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022

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The City of Liberty Hill is Working for You

Agendas and Minutes

• 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 • LH2O Task Force • Planning & Zoning Commission • Public Works Commission • Parks & Recreation Board • Charter Advisory Committee • Economic Development Corporation • Board of Adjustments

Contact City Staff

Report a Concern

Citizens – City of Liberty Hill

Mayor & City Council Engineering (contracted) City Administrator

Attorney Services (contracted)

Planning & Development Building Inspections

Event Security

Code Enforcement

Investigation

Mapping

Community Engagement & Communications

Permits Planning & Development

Events

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IT

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Audio/Visual Electronic Equipment

Budgeting Payroll

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Communications

Project Management

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Maintenance Case Management

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Public Relations Special Programs

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Police

City Secretary

Spring 2023

Labor Relations Recruitment Retention Risk Assessment Skill Development

Economic Development

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)

Liberty Hill University bridging the gap between community, local government

By Rachel Madison Liberty Hill Independent Staff Writer

I

n 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 Sign up for Liberty participating in a Hill University future class can sign up for the waiting list by following the QR Code or visiting www.experiencelhtx. com/lhuniversity.

Spring 2023

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Water Tower Plaza - Next to Texas Taco Kitchen

NEW TO LIBERTY HILL?

Whether you’re new to Liberty Hill or considering a move, we want to get to know you. and hear tips to help your family feel connected and involved!

Liberty Hill ISD Administration Building 301 Forrest St, Liberty Hill, TX 78642

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DATES & TIMES Jun 6 | 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Dec 5 | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Aug 1 | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Feb 6 | 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Oct 3 | 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Apr 2 | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Commited to building champions in a small town with a big heart!

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