Following two requests made by Kyle City Council on Aug. 20, city staff presented a recommendation on Sept. 17 for establishing a committee on aging and a quality-of-life study.

BUDA — During its Sept. 17 meeting, Buda City Council unanimously approved the creation of a Public Improvement District (PID) and a Tax Increment Zone (TIRZ), in partnership with Hays County, to provide the public infrastructure outlined in the development agreement for the Persimmon development. This comes on the heels of the city council approving the development agreement with Milestone Community Builders, the city of Buda receiving a petition for the creation of a PID from the majority of the project property owners, Bailey Land Investments, L.P. and Armbruster Land Investments and the city entering into an interlocal agreement with Hays County to jointly participate in the TIRZ in June. The PID — a geographic area that receives specific improvements or maintenance through special assessments on the property owners within the defined area only — covers the entire approximate 774.235 acres of the Persimmon development according to agenda documents. The assessments are based on the proportionate cost of the improvements and debt issuance costs. “As part of that PID creation process, the city would identify the boundary of the PID. We are identifying the boundary as 774 acres and that’s property that is included within the city of Buda, the city of Buda’s [extraterritorial jurisdiction,] Hays County and Travis County,” presented Patrick Bourne of Sundance Analytics. “The second thing that the council would do as part of the PID creation process is establish a maximum authorization amount or a maximum PID public improvement cost of $250 million. We do not anticipate that [the] maximum amount of those bonds would be issued; it’s just a preliminary amount that’s established at the time the PID is created.” Key PID terms/metrics, as presented by Bourne, are listed below: • $2.85 proposed total equivalent tax rate (net of estimated TIRZ offset), which is less than the $3 allowed per the development agreement • Multiple improvement areas/bond series • 30-year bond term • 2% debt service escalation • 2 to 1 minimum value to lien ration at bond sale • Create an estimated $177 million in public improvements that will be dedicated to the city — 16% of that will be major infrastructure, along with $46 million of other developer financing Under the terms of the development agreement, the city of Buda agrees to create both a PID and TIRZ to help cover the costs related to public improvements for the project. “This item is in line with the recently approved development agreement for Persimmon. As part of that development agreement, it contemplated the city creating both a Public Improvement District and a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to help finance the public improvements that are required as part of this project, so the roadway infrastructure, drainage water, wastewater, those improvements,” said city manager Micah Grau. The TIRZ will generate $266 million in incremental property taxes over the 45-year term (ending in 2069), of which the city will retain $125 million. A TIRZ records all taxable value of property within that geographic area and deposits those funds in a Tax Increment Fund (TIF) — revenues in that fund can only be used for improvement projects in the TIRZ. Bourne said that it is anticipated that the TIRZ will be divided; Subzone A will be the property within Hays County, which is about 708 acres, and Subzone B will be in Travis County, which is about 66 acres of the project. As part both the development agreement and the interlocal agreement with Hays County, the city agrees to contribute 50% of the city’s ad valorem real property taxes collected for the portion of the Persimmon project located within the Buda city limits and 75% and seventy-five of the city’s ad valorem real property taxes collected for the portion of the development located within Travis County. And Hays County agrees to contribute 50% of the county’s ad valorem real property taxes for the portion of the project located within the county. This is the third TIRZ established by the city of Buda — the first being the Cabela’s TIRZ, which has since expired, and the second being for The Colony at Cole Springs Road. Similar to that of The Colony’s TIRZ, the city council will serve as the TIRZ board representatives for the city. The TIRZ board will consist of nine members, including all seven city council members and two Hays County representatives; the county has established that commissioner Walt Smith and Development Services Director Marcus Pacheco will serve as the Hays County representatives, according to agenda documents. Grau said that council’s vote was to create the PID and the TIRZ, but it does not create the finance plan or issue PID bonds: “It’s simply the first step in many steps that will be required as part of this process.” The next steps will be for the TIRZ Board to analyze the financial and service plan in greater detail, as well as for the city council to issue PID bonds. The authorization and creation of the PID and issuance of bonds does not obligate the city of Buda to provide any funds; all costs of the improvements will be paid from assessments levied on the property within the PID and paid directly to bond holders annually. For more information on the Persimmon Development or the creation of the PID and the TIRZ, visit bit. ly/3TYEFcj. To listen to the full presentation, visit www.budatx.gov/390/ City-Council-Board-Commission-Meetings–.

KYLE — Several parents of Hays CISD students have voiced concerns regarding the district’s Special Education Department, stating that changes occurring in classrooms are hindering their student’s education. Maria Bowen, a paraprofessional within the district, as well as a mother of three children with special needs, spoke during public comments at the Hays CISD Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 16, stating that staff shortages have prevented her son from meeting inclusion minutes, as he cannot go to specials, recess or the lunch room. According Hays CISD officials, inclusion minutes “are minutes where a student is supported by an adult in a general education setting.” Because these students may need additional learning services or support in a foundational learning classroom, they may receive inclusion support in the general educational classroom. These minutes do not have a state-mandated amount, but are instead determined by the student’s Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee. This committee must consist of a parent, one regular education teacher, one special education teacher, a representative of the school, a person who can interpret the instructional implications of the evaluation results and, if appropriate, the child, according to the Texas SPED Support website. It is then that this committee determines whether a child meets the criteria for special education and services, where it will create an Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, for the student. Included in this IEP is a determined amount of “inclusion minutes.” Another parent and paraprofessional, Taylor Kelley, stated that her son is also not having these minutes met: “This noncompliance is not just a violation of his IEP, it is a failure to provide free and appropriate public education that he is legally entitled to.” “The district is aware [of these concerns],” stated Hays CISD representatives. “There are students who are not currently receiving the inclusion minutes that are outlined on their IEP, due to an unexpected number of students who transferred into the district and were already receiving services in a previous district that have moved into Hays CISD.” “All IEP minutes — those served and those not served — are documented. If a student missed minutes due to staff shortages of any kind, progress is being monitored and the need for compensatory minutes will be discussed with the ARD committee,” said district officials. Kelley also noted that several classrooms have merged in the district, resulting in overcrowded classrooms, which, she believes, means that there is no opportunity for proper instructions, leading the children to fall behind, but district officials countered the claim, stating, “Our goal is to serve students through their home campus, rather than having to send them to another school to be served. Classrooms were not merged between schools. On most campuses, there are at least two foundational learning classrooms.” These foundational learning classrooms refer to classrooms for students with significant cognitive deficits. There was also another class titled “foundational learning structured classrooms.” Lorraine Patterson, who has a student with level three autism and severe brain malformations, stated that her daughter was moved from a structured class to a traditional foundational learning class. “This is not by our choice. [My daughter] is now forced to be in a traditional [foundational learning] classroom because the district, suddenly and without notice to parents, eliminated the structured classrooms that have existed for at least the last 10 years, which have allowed our [daughter] and others like her successfully attend school,” said Patterson. “The word structured was a label added to the title foundational learning to define how the classes were to be differentiated. The original intention for the differentiation was to identify which students required specific instructional strategies to address routines and procedures systematically,” explained district representatives. “Somewhere along the way, the differentiation evolved and foundational learning structured became a classroom for students with cognitive deficits who exhibited behavior. This evolved differentiation led to determining the placement of the student. This was never the original intent … The label ‘structured’ was removed from the title of the classroom to reduce stigma.” District officials also stated that the change in the title was discussed at the April 30, 2024, Special Education Parent Advisory Committee meeting and information was sent out from the Special Education Department in a back-toschool 12, 2024. Despite the varying concerns presented by parents, they all shared one common stressor: a shortage in staff. Tania van Bree painted a picture of what her son’s classroom looked like: there were seven students, aged kindergarten through fifth grade, with four adults; many students are minimal or nonverbal; most run away, have no sense of danger or become aggressive when frustrated; and there are separate therapies and activities schedule throughout the day for each student dependent on their needs. Now, this is still true, only the number has doubled. “When I think of all [these issues] and I sit there on Friday nights watching all of these amazing students benefit from the programs they have access to — my daughter is in marching band — it’s amazing, but I can’t help but get teary thinking about how, meanwhile, my son and his peers are struggling just to have their basic rights met, just to be able to feel safe and to learn. I know his sister would give it all up in a heartbeat,” said van Bree. “For a chance to support her little brother’s education, she would drop it. She knows he deserves it. They all deserve the support and more and I know our community members like you care about helping them become functional members of our society and they deserve our attention and they deserve our support.” Parents at the meeting stated that several students and staff members have been hurt as a result of the lack of staff. Hays CISD officials confirmed that this is an issue that the district is experiencing. Specifically, in the special education departments, there are 14 special education teacher positions, six special education paraprofessional positions and four special education district positions that are empty, which includes speech therapists, school psychologists/education diagnosticians, an adapted physical education teacher and a teacher of the visually impaired. To remedy some of these vacancies, there has been support from educational contract companies for some positions, confirmed the district, some of which began after the first day of school. In order to bolster the hiring and retention rate of teachers in the Special Education Department, the Human Resources Department held a job fair for special education positions in April, as well as worked closely with universities to recruit paraprofessionals and teachers for grant-funded degree programs. Hays CISD parent Claudia Belcher said that parents have received the same answers over and over: “I hear you” and “There’s budget cuts [and] shortages.” “We have been reasonable and patient, but we feel it’s about time for you guys to start taking more actions to make sure these needs are met,” concluded Belcher. To further address the concerns, the Hays CISD Special Education Department presented information to the Hays CISD Board of Trustees at the Sept. 24 meeting. The will cover this presentation and the discussion in the Oct. 2 edition.

Local artist Kelly Bonsall focuses as she paints the Zoi Market in downtown Buda for the live mural painting portion of the Buda Arts Festival, which occurred from Sept. 17-21. PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KELLEY Sinéad Whiteside, co-owner of Inspired Minds Art Center, poses next to pieces in the Festival Fine Art Show, where community members voted for their favorite art piece. The Buda Arts Festival is a celebration of all-things art, including live mural painting, art competitions, artisan markets, gallery exhibits and more. PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KELLEY Several art pieces by local artists are displayed in the Festival Fine Arts show. PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KELLEY A charcoal portrait of Taylor Swift by Tiffany Dixon is displayed in the Festival Fine Arts show gallery for the Buda Arts Festival. PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KELLEY

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARKDripping Springs defensive lineman Clive Wahl (No. 94) gets a hole opened up, thanks to a block from Nick Tyndall and Dane Kizer, and now has his eyes fixed on the goal line. Wahl scored the first of seven Tiger touchdowns in a 49-34 win over Buda Johnson on Friday, Sept. 20.

Lehman junior Sophia Ender crosses the finish line at the McNeil Invitational. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS Lehman’s Maverick Krauss (No. 3801) towards the end of the race. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS Lobo runner Dominic Galvan (No. 3800) runs as he completes the race. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS Pictured, Lehman runner Hannah McDaniel crosses the finish line. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS

On Friday, Sept. 20, Buda's Johnson High School Jaguars traveled to Dripping Springs High School. The Jags trailed most of the game and the final score was Tigers 49, Jags 34. On the Jags first possession, they marched down the field and scored on an 8-yard run by Zachary Isaac, but the extra point was missed. The Tigers went on to score 21 points in the first half and the Jags score scored another touchdown. The halftime score was Tigers 21, Jags 14. The Jags offense was very productive with 369 yards rushing, 93 yards receiving and 66 yards kick returns for a total of 528 all-purpose yards. Notable offensive stats include Kael Hatnot with 159 yards, Kory Moye with 148 yards, W. Garrett Hall with 107 yards and Isaac with 109 yards. On the defensive side, the standouts were Charles Stewart with one sack and Thomas Schnabel and Clayton Brown with five tackles each. During the post-game interview with JHS head football coach Sam Carlin said he felt it was going to be a race to 50 points with two great offenses on the field. He stated that the Tigers are a well-coached team and he is very proud of the Jags’ offensive effort. He said that their defense also gave it a great effort, but they came up short. He went on the say that these non-district games will be used to get better and will pay off in the long run. JHS will begin district play against the San Marcos High School Rattlers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.

PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS The Lehman cheerleaders and JROTC line up to welcome the football team prior to the game. Pictured, Lehman’s Colton Gunderson (No.1) attempts to evade a Weiss defender. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS

DRIPPING SPRINGS — In a match against the Bowie Bulldogs on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Dripping Springs Lady Tigers volleyball team secured a 3-0 win across the board. The final scores were 25-15, 25-18 and 25-17. According to MaxPreps the Tigers are ranked fourth in the state and ninth in the nation. Also, on Friday, Sept. 20, the Tigers hosted Westlake High School and won the match three sets to one set. The scores were Tigers 25-17, Chaps 25-20, Tigers 25-23 and Tigers 25-17. The Tigers will host Del Valle High School Cardinals (15-11) at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 1.

Texan football falls to Lampasas 35-27 LAMPASAS — It has been four years since the Wimberley Texans have lost back-to-back games and since that 12-4 season of 2020, the Texans have only lost five games up until this year. Wimberley is 2-2 after a 27-16 loss on the road to LBJ in week three, and last week, another loss on the road to Lampasas 35-27, who had not defeated the Texans since that 2020 season. It was a valiant effort, but turnovers again plagued the Texans against a 4-0 Badgers team. Quarterback Cody Stoever connected with seven different receivers and was 15 of 25 for 161 yards, including a pass to Nolan Waida for a touchdown. Stoever carried the ball 25 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns. Benji Olmedo had seven carries for 76 yards. The Texans had 523 total yards to the Badgers 518. The Texans are on the road again at Geronimo at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 to go up against Navarro (1-3).

WIMBERLEY -- Following two separate investigations conducted today at two campuses, Wimberley ISD sent the following email out to the district's community. Dear Texan Families, We are emailing you to let you know about two separate investigations that were conducted today at two of our campuses. At Danforth Junior High a non-specific threat was reportedly made by a student that insinuated gun violence was to happen at the campus. Multiple students reported hearing these remarks and alerted campus administrators. An investigation was immediately initiated that included the DJH School Resource Officer (SRO). The investigation involved direct questioning of the student who made the claim and other students who heard the remarks. Through this investigation we have determined that there is no threat to anyone on campus and the threat is not credible. At Jacob’s Well Elementary, multiple students reported a concerning chat that took place on the social media app Snapchat. After a thorough investigation, it has been determined that the JWE students that reported the incident allowed a user to enter their private chat group because this user was posing as a friend. The user went on to threaten harm to the others in the group. It appears the user is another JWE student who was pretending to be someone else as a joke. While there was no threat made regarding school or the JWE campus, this situation is something we take very seriously and JWE’s SRO and administrators are continuing to monitor the situation. Unfortunately these two instances are similar to incidents that have been happening in our region and state. Recently, many of our neighboring districts and others across the state have been receiving credible and non-credible threats to schools and school communities. We urge you to have a conversation with your students and reinforce to them that making threats is not a joke; it is a crime. We want to commend the students who immediately reported what they heard and saw and our campus SROs and staff who responded swiftly. The safety of our students, staff, and everyone on campus is of the utmost importance. As always, if you see or hear something, be sure to tell us. We commit to you that if there is ever something that may be concerning on campus, we will keep you informed.

Manuel Balderas

Lehman junior Sophia Ender crosses the finish line at the McNeil Invitational. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS Lehman’s Maverick Krauss (No. 3801) towards the end of the race. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS Lobo runner Dominic Galvan (No. 3800) runs as he completes the race. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS Pictured, Lehman runner Hannah McDaniel crosses the finish line. PHOTO BY URSULA ROGERS

After multiple threats that have been made against the district's schools, Hays CISD is fast-tracking to have this poster up at the middle and high school campuses. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HAYS CISD)

Thirty-six Wimberley High School students were honored in four College Board National Recognition award categories. (PHOTO COURTESY OF WISD)

DRIPPING SPRINGS — Dr. David Gay, a board-certified oculofacial and reconstructive plastic surgeon, proudly celebrated the grand opening of his new practice, Texas Eye Aesthetics, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 5. The Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors were in attendance, extending an official welcome to Texas Eye Aesthetics. Located in the Sawyer Ranch Medical Tower at 13830 Sawyer Ranch Road, Suite 201, Dr. Gay’s practice aims to provide top-tier care for patients in Dripping Springs and the surrounding areas. Texas Eye Aesthetics is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., offering flexible scheduling to accommodate busy lifestyles. Dr. Gay specializes in a comprehensive range of surgical services, including eyelid surgery, brow lifts, tear duct surgery, cancer reconstruction, orbital surgery and procedures involving the surrounding facial structures. His expertise extends beyond surgical care; he also offers a variety of non-surgical options, such as laser treatments, injectables and advanced skincare solutions, catering to patients seeking aesthetic enhancements without the need for surgery. Whether a patient is visiting for cosmetic enhancements or medical concerns, Dr. Gay remarked, “Every surgery I perform, I aim for the most aesthetically pleasing outcome.” Texas Eye Aesthetics is dedicated to delivering exceptional outcomes with patient comfort in mind. Patients and referring physicians can schedule appointments online at www.teasurgery.com. The practice also offers the convenience of calling or texting at 512-607-6884, ensuring that booking and consultations are simple and accessible. “We are thrilled to bring specialized oculoplastic and reconstructive services to Dripping Springs and look forward to many years of serving the community,” said Dr. Gay. For more information, visit Texas Eye Aesthetics at the Sawyer Ranch Medical Tower or reach out through the contact information above.

KYLE –– On Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, the Kyle Police Department responded to an active robbery call at Broadway Bank, located at 5089 Kyle Parkway. According to a news release, the bank employees notified law enforcement immediately after the suspect fled the scene. Upon arrival, KPD obtained information from eyewitnesses identifying the suspect as a white male wearing a facemask, who escaped in a white passenger vehicle. The suspect vehicle was identified as a 2019 white Chevrolet Malibu. Further investigation led detectives to the registered owner of the vehicle, 37-year-old Garrett Ryan Luddeke, of La Vernia, Texas. KPD obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect on charges of robbery on Sept. 12. He was apprehended on Friday, Sept. 13, by the La Vernia Police Department and has since been released on bail from the Wilson County Jail with a bond set at $40,000. “This case highlights the collaboration not only within our own divisions, but also with other local law enforcement partners,” Kyle Chief of Police Jeff Barnett said. “The quick identification and apprehension of the suspect demonstrates our collective commitment to ensuring the safety of our community. I am proud of the hard work and dedication displayed by all involved.”

DRIPPING SPRINGS — Dripping Springs ISD is seeking community input on the name of the district’s sixth elementary school, which is scheduled to open for the 2025-26 school year. Elementary #6 is under construction off Mira Vista Drive in the Headwaters neighborhood. The campus will accommodate 850 students in pre-k through fifth grade and relieve overcrowding at Dripping Springs Elementary and Walnut Springs Elementary. Currently, all eight DSISD schools are named after existing natural springs in the area. Board policy states that district facilities may be named for local residential areas, local geographic features or local, state or national landmarks; district facilities shall not be named for persons, living or deceased, stated a DSISD news release. A community survey is available at www.dsisdtx.us/es6namingsurvey through Friday, Oct. 11, for stakeholders to share their suggestions for the name of the school. The results of the survey will be used by the Elementary #6 Name Recommendation Committee to prepare its recommendation for the DSISD Board of Trustees to consider at its Jan. 27, 2025 meeting.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD Dripping Springs High School seniors Elliott Kling and Jackie Truesdell have been named National Merit Semifinalists based on their performances on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). The 16,000 semifinalists represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors; about 95% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, according to a Dripping Springs ISD news release. Kling is a member of the Tiger Band and the Foreign Exchange Club. He is the clarinet section leader and a twotime UIL State Solo & Ensemble qualifier as part of the clarinet choir. He plans to major in acoustic engineering and music technology, with aspirations to attend his dream school, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

DRIPPING SPRINGS — For nearly 10 years, Central Texas Youth Ballet (CTYB) has aimed to encourage a widespread love of ballet and dance to the children of Dripping Springs and surrounding areas. Established in 2015, CTYB works to create an inclusive environment that is encouraging to all dancers and strives to offer the best training possible to Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Johnson City, Blanco and south Austin. The studio offers classes for students starting at the age of 2 years old and there are options ranging across styles, age groups and abilities. Rena Reeder, director of CTYB, studied dance pedagogy through...