The District will be reconvening its Long Range Facilities Planning Committee later this month to address Proposition C (athletic facilities and renovations) which did not pass. The committee will review items contained in the proposition and discuss next steps for a potential bond election in November 2023.

Before beginning this process, we want to hear from you. A community survey has been developed which will allow you to share your open and honest responses to a series of questions regarding our bond preparation and planning. Please note that individual responses cannot be linked to individual respondents.

Your feedback is important to us. The results of the survey will be used to guide our work as we continue to address our growth and facilities planning.

Lake Travis ISD applied to receive Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The intent and purpose of the funding is to sustain the safe operation of schools and address student learning needs as a result of COVID-19.

As a part of ongoing ESSER provisions, the District is required to review and revise, as applicable, its plan approximately every six months—including receiving stakeholder input to assist us with prioritizing ESSER funding and developing our Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan.

In an effort to obtain parent and community feedback, we have developed a survey linked below. Please take a moment to share your input and opinions. Responses are due by Wednesday, April 5, 2023 and will be reviewed and taken into consideration as the District updates its plan. Your participation and feedback are valued and appreciated.

Lake Travis High School is pleased to announce that the following seniors have been recognized as Finalists by the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program:

• Tyler Harrison – parents, Jeff and Faith Harrison
• William Iannitelli – parents, Anthony Iannitelli and Denise Ray
• Bogna Kaminska – parents, Piotr Kaminski and Beata Kaminska
• Jackson Lieb – parents, Gordon and Jennifer Lieb
• Elizabeth Sewell – parents, David and Rory Sewell
• Meghana Singireddy – parents, Srinivasa and Sudha Singireddy
• Siddharth Sreenivasan – parents, Santosh and Jyoti Sreenivasan
• Andrew Yun – parents, Eunsang and Soeun Yun

These students entered the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) as high school juniors in 2021. They were chosen from more than 1.6 million program entrants and represent less than one percent of each state’s high school seniors. According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, these students are the top scorers from each state and show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. In all, 64 seniors from the Lake Travis High School Class of 2023 are National Merit Scholarship Program Qualifying Students. National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist is the highest distinction a student can earn. Beginning in March and continuing through mid-June, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will notify approximately 7,500 Finalists that they have been selected to receive one of three Merit Scholarship® awards: a National Merit® Scholarship, a Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship, or a College-sponsored Merit Scholarship.

Is social media mostly beneficial or mostly risky for teens?

This is the question presented to our Lake Travis Middle School seventh grade students as part of an English Language Arts lesson. Their assignment was to read articles and gather research in order to address the prompt. Students then wrote an argumentative essay, and the author’s purpose was to make a case for their position for younger students and parents. Their teachers, Meg Coe, Lindsy Trapani, and Monica Wommack, coordinated with the Bee Cave Public Library to provide an authentic audience and they graciously opened a space for the work.

The essays are currently on display at the Bee Cave Public Library through Spring Break.

Lake Travis ISD proudly joins the Texas Educational Diagnosticians Association to celebrate March 6-10, 2023 as "Educational Diagnosticians’ Week."

Educational diagnosticians are certified professionals who help identify many types of learning disorders and help provide students with a high-quality education. Educational Diagnosticians’ Week is a time set aside to honor diagnosticians who consistently demonstrate professionalism, competence, and excellence in order to provide individuals with disabilities quality educational services.

The following educational diagnosticians serve students across LTISD:

• Casey Brown, Lake Travis High School
• Jeff Dietzel, Lake Travis High School
• Lisa Ducote, Rough Hollow Elementary School
• Leena Gulati, Serene Hills Elementary School
• Stacey Hall, Bee Cave Elementary School
• Stacey Oncale, Lake Travis High School
• Lari Rogge, West Cypress Hills Elementary School
• Thelene Scarborough, Lakeway Elementary School
• Jennifer Scoggins, Hudson Bend Middle School
• Randi Sherrer, Lake Travis Elementary School
• Ruben Soria, Bee Cave Middle School
  

Please join us in recognizing the contributions of these amazing members of the LTISD family.

With the theme “We Rise,” Lake Travis ISD proudly joins the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) to celebrate March 5-11, 2023 as "National School Social Work Week."

Together with SSWAA, we believe that school social workers rise up—supporting their students, families, and school communities. School social workers rise to share hope. They rise to listen and understand. They rise to challenge inequities. They rise to support all students.

Furthermore, school social workers are critical members of the education team, playing a central role in creating a positive environment in our schools. These professionals are especially skilled in identifying and providing services to students who face serious challenges to school success including poverty, disability, discrimination, abuse, addiction, bullying, loss of a loved one, and other barriers to learning.

The following school social workers serve students across LTISD:

• Tracy Barney - Bee Cave Elementary School, Lake Pointe Elementary School, Bee Cave Middle School
• Lacey Branker - Lake Travis High School
• Rachael Macomber - Lake Travis High School
• Daniela McFarland - Lakeway Elementary School, Lake Travis Elementary School, Serene Hills Elementary School, Hudson Bend Middle School
• Colette Schwene - Rough Hollow Elementary School, West Cypress Hills Elementary School, Lake Travis Middle School

Please join us in recognizing the contributions of these special members of the LTISD family!

The Lake Travis ISD Special Olympics Cycling team braved the near-freezing the morning of February 18 to participate in the 2023 State Winter Games at Bee Cave Middle School. The temperature may have been cold, but the team was on fire. Results are as follows:

Additionally, the team's new trailer—purchased with donations following last year's theft, debuted at competition as well. Later that evening, the athletes joined other delegations for dinner at Star Hill Ranch followed by Opening Ceremonies and the traditional Victory Dance. Athlete Reno Dees participated in the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run alongside Lakeway Police Chief Glen Koen and lit the Special Olympics caldron together.

Dr. Laura Abbott serves as the Director of Special Services at Lake Travis ISD; Marisa Sodders serves as Lake Travis Head of Delegation; and Frank Assorgi serves as Lake Travis Special Olympics Cycling Coach.