LVMS Newsletter
Edition XI, October 27
Bridge Building
How would you react?
Warning Poster
Information About VATRE
The Lago Vista ISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution calling for a November Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) to generate additional revenue for salary increases and safety and security measures. This resolution follows months of deliberation by the Board of Trustees and the approval of the 2023-2024 budget. The VATRE will take place on November 7, 2023.
A Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) is an election that is required by state law when a school board adopts an M&O tax rate that is greater than the rate set by the State. The Lago Vista ISD Board of Trustees adopted an M&O tax rate of .6992 cents, which is two cents higher than the rate set by the State of Texas. With an I&S tax rate of .32 cents, the total adopted tax rate for 2023-2024 is $1.0192. Voters must approve the two cents on the M&O rate.
Due to the M&O tax rate compression by the State, Lago Vista ISD's total tax rate will still decrease from last year with the passage of the VATRE. Lago Vista ISD’s total adopted tax rate for 2023-2024 is $1.0192 (with the VATRE), which is a decrease from the prior year’s tax rate of $1.184. The District’s Chief Financial Officer, Jason Stoner, explains, “If the VATRE is approved by voters, tax rates will go down 16.5 cents per $100 of valuation instead of 18.5 cents. Tax rates will still go down from last year."
In addition to compressed tax rates, Texas will vote to decide if taxpayers will see the homestead exemption increase from $40,000 to $100,000 as a result of the passage of SB 2. Lago Vista ISD taxpayers will also continue to benefit from the additional Board-approved Local Optional Homestead Exemption (LOHE), which provides a 20% exemption off the net appraised value of homesteads.
If approved by voters, the VATRE will inject approximately $800,000 into the District's operating budget. These funds will be used to provide additional salary increases for staff members and increased safety and security measures across the District.
"The language on the ballot is required to specify the amount of the increase in local revenue, so the ballot will say that it's a 0 percent increase in revenue," said Stoner. "In actuality," he explains, "there is a $0 increase in local tax revenue, but our overall revenue will increase approximately $800,000 from State funding generated by the VATRE.”
If the additional revenue is not approved, the District will face a projected $800,000 budget shortfall. This shortfall is the result of multiple variables, including the estimated $10.5 million recapture payment the District has to send to the State of Texas this school year, the discontinuation of federal funding programs, the Texas legislature's decision not to increase the basic allotment amount per student, unfunded state mandates the District will have to allocate funds to meet, and rising operating costs due to inflation. If the VATRE does not pass, the District’s budget shortfall would largely result from planned raises for staff. “If the VATRE does not pass, we will not have the revenue needed to move forward with additional salary increases planned for this year,” said Stoner.
To date, voters in nine other ISDs in central Texas have approved VATRE elections, including Leander ISD, Georgetown ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Lake Travis ISD, and Eanes ISD.
The Lago Vista ISD VATRE and an election for Place 4 on the Lago Vista ISD Board of Trustees will be on the ballot of a General Election held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polling times and locations will soon be available on the District website and/or Travis County elections website.
Join us at one of the following public meetings in the PAC at LV High School to learn more about the VATRE.
Monday, October 23 - 6:30pm
Wednesday, November 1 - 6:30pm
Attention LVHS & LVMS Parents! Did you sign up for the LVISD Optional Accidental Damage & Theft Coverage for your student's device?
The cost is $50 for an individual student, or $75 for households with multiple students. Please visit www.myschoolbucks.com to pay for your student's coverage prior to November 1st.
Note: Students in grades PK-5 will not have self-managed devices this year, so coverage is only needed for students in grades 6-12.
If you have any questions, please contact our Technology Department at techhelp@lagovistaisd.net.
As a parent AND as the Middle School Principal...I HIGHLY suggest getting this coverage!
Red Ribbon Week
Monday - Fight Against Fentanyl - Camo Day
Tuesday - Boo to Drugs! School Appropriate Halloween Costume(the students will need to be able to come into class and sit in their desks, no masks, no props)
After School Events
We've had several students decide to run across 1431 to go to Brookshire Brothers for food and then come back. Technically, they are not breaking any school rules, but it is extremely unsafe.
So if you're students stay after school, please have that discussion with them...thank you!
Lost & Found
2023-2024 Lago Vista Middle School Yearbooks on sale NOW!
Order yours today for only $30.00, $35.00 with name. Price will increase on 11/30/23! Buy now for the best rate. Ads are also available at this time. This is a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to show their support for your child. Space is limited, package descriptions available online. Thank you for your support to the yearbook program.
https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=18995
Subs Needed!
We get asked the question a lot - how can we help? Being a substitute is one of the best ways! Apply online - https://www.lagovistaisd.net/page/hr.substitutes
Please email me if you have any questions! eholt@lagovistaisd.net
The Supply Drive ENDS this Wednesday!
Thank you to our Parent Volunteers!
Hello Parents and Guardians:
We are actively forming a parent volunteer group to help support the teachers, staff, and
students at Lago Vista Middle School. As a parent, there are a number of ways you can help out
and be involved at middle school:
â—Ź Teacher Supply Drive
â—Ź Monthly Staff Appreciation Luncheons
â—Ź Stock the Teachers Lounge
â—Ź Pies for Thanksgiving
â—Ź Holiday Goodies
â—Ź And More
If you are interested in joining a group of parents to volunteer at the middle school, please
complete the form Here.
We will send you an email to coordinate the many different opportunities you have to make a
difference at the middle school. Whether you have a few hours a week, an hour a year, or
awesome culinary skills, we’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to help out but aren’t quite sure
how, just let us know and we’ll figure something out!
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Courtney Stockard at
cstockard@duck.com or Lindsey Phillips at lindsey.phillips@modmed.com
Sincerely,
Courtney Stockard and Lindsey Phillips
Every Wednesday is College Shirt Day!
Spectator Guidelines for Athletic Events
We have our first Varsity football game this weekend, and in a continuing effort to assure the safety and enjoyment of all athletes and spectators, the following procedures will be enforced during home athletic events:
Outside food and drink are prohibited.
There is no re-entry after exiting the event.
All students 5th grade and younger must be accompanied by an adult guardian in order to attend home games. The students must remain under the supervision of that guardian while at the event.
Standing, loitering or horseplay under and around the stands, concession stands, or any other area is prohibited. There is absolutely no standing allowed by the rails and walkways in the stands. Repeat offenders will be required to leave the event and campus.
Revealing, provocative and/or inappropriate dress will not be allowed, nor will inappropriate behaviors or foul language. Repeat offenders will be required to leave the event and campus.
Once inside the event, middle school and high school students with a student ticket will be allowed to sit in the designated student area on the home side. Students are allowed to sit in the reserved or general admission sections only if they are under the supervision of an adult guardian.
The use of alcohol, controlled substances, tobacco, and electronic cigarettes are prohibited on school premises.
Only pre-approved individuals will be allowed access to the sidelines and track before and during football games.
Spectators may not enter the field area or cross to the visiting team side.
Everyone is expected to abide by the UIL’s expectations of proper sportsmanship. Failure to do so may result in being removed from the event and campus.
Lago Vista ISD appreciates everyone’s cooperation and support as we work to keep a safe and enjoyable environment at Viking athletic events.
Vikings Take 3 out of 4 from the Ducks
7th B Lady Vikings vs. Taylor
I didn’t get to coach the girls on the last game because of the separation of grade level and gyms. Coach Weyant stepped up to help out and guide these girls to a victory. These ladies finished the season undefeated! I’m so proud of these ladies and all that they have put into the sport of volleyball.
8th B Lady Vikings vs. Taylor
The Lady Vikings came away with a tough loss tonight. The game went into three sets but we just couldn’t pull it off. The first set the Lady Vikings came back from an 8 point deficit and rallied back to only lose by 2. The second set the ladies came back ready to fight and took the set. The third set was back and forth and then we just couldn’t stop Taylor. The girls fought hard and did the best they could. This group of ladies have been fun to coach and watch grow over the season. I appreciated how they learned to be teammates and work together to accomplish their goals. A great group of student athletes that I will miss coaching! Thank you parents for everything you have done to help our kiddos be successful! Great season ladies.
7A vs. Taylor
7A Lady Vikings end the regular season with a 7-1 record with the win against Taylor on Monday this week! It started off rocky with the B team game arriving in Taylor so we were slightly flubbed to begin with. The gym wasn't set up, we were given a bag of basketballs, there wasn't a cord to connect the scoreboard, and one of Taylors coaches had a last minute injury and did not show up unexpectedly. With that being said, the one thing that stands out the most is that it was HOT and I am so glad that these girls pulled through in 2 sets! They played very well and are realizing the teams are improving nearing the end of the season so there is more actual “play” now but they are keeping up and handling the challenge well! To end this season with only 1 loss is something they should be very proud of! On to the District Tournament early tomorrow in Marble Falls to end the season! Contributing to the team win are: Leya Sund, Brinkley Gold, Elena Prescott, Lila Rodriguez, Sloane Wolf, Lauren Carpenter, Amelia Ferguson, Molly Cortez, Rain Nelson, Te’A Turner. Great job ladies, we are all so proud of you and your hard work this season!
8A VS TAYLOR
LADY VIKINGS CLOSE OUT REGULAR SEASON IN STYLE!
The girls were on the road at Taylor for one last time in the regular season this past Monday evening. The girls were looking to keep their unblemished district record intact as they head into the district tournament at the end of the week. The rainy weather and slow traffic on the way to Taylor would serve as an omen as to how the games would play out Monday. In this rematch of the first game of the season the Lady Vikings came out strong and fast in the first set much like they did way back in August. However, and I’m gonna blame it on the rain, the Vikings began to commit mistakes that they haven’t been prone to making all season long. Before you knew it the Lady Ducks had climbed all the way back from an almost 10pt deficit in the first set tying the score at 24. A short time out later, the Lady Vikings responded with a quick sideout point and a strong serve to close out the first set winning 26-24.
The second saw a much more focused Lady Vikings squad as they did a great job of talking to each other reminding themselves of how they want to play between sets. The girls would go on to play a great second set getting off to a very good start while playing some great volleyball. This time they would maintain that high level throughout the entire second set eventually winning by a whopping score of 25-13.
The win gives the Lady Vikings their 10th of the season as well as another perfect regular season record of 6-0 in district play, an arduous exploit to say the least. Not many classes of girls can lay claim to such a feat! I can only think of a few that went undefeated while in both 7th and 8th grade in my time here at LVMS!
The girls get to play volleyball one more time as they enter the District Tournament on Saturday as the #1 overall seed and are very hopeful in earning their second district championship. The girls will play their first match around 10am with a chance to get into the championship match a couple of hours later. Wish the girls luck as they hope to bring back another first place trophy!
Vikings Square Off Against Tough Wimberley Teams
On Thursday, the LVMS Football Teams traveled to Wimberley for the final road game of the season. Both the 7th and 8th grade teams were riding 3-game district winning streaks and were looking to stay undefeated in district play. While the effort was most certainly valiant, the Vikings teams were not able to continue the streak. Wimberley was able to control both games with a balanced attack in the air and on the ground. The Vikings were able to compete and had their opportunities. However, turnovers proved to be costly for the Vikings.
In the 7th grade game, defense was strong for both sides. Cole Schroeder intercepted a 2 pt play attempt and returned it for 2 pts and Aiden Chaffin scored on a pass from Levi Castro. In the 8th grade game, Steven Schwerdt scored a rushing touchdown in the 1st quarter and that was all of the scoring for the Vikings.
The boys played extremely hard and we are very proud of their determination and desire to win. Valuable lessons were learned in their experience and those lessons will pay off for them as they continue to develop for Varsity Football in the soon years to come. The Vikings will close out the 2023 season, at home, on Thursday, November 2 at LVHS vs Jarrell.
Both teams, with a victory, will finish the season as second place teams in the district.
Student Registration
This message is to inform you that annual student registration is open in Ascender ParentPortal.
As a reminder, annual registration must be completed EACH YEAR because these forms provide us with important permissions and information that must be provided annually. It is also very important to note that the information provided in Ascender ParentPortal is what the school uses to contact parents in the event of an emergency, so it is very important that all information is correct and up-to-date.
HOW DO I ACCESS ASCENDER PARENT PORTAL?
https://portals13.ascendertx.com/ParentPortal/login?distid=227912
ÂżNECESITA ESPAĂ‘OL?
Todos los formularios de registro también están en español. Para continuar en español, hay un menú desplegable en la esquina superior derecha de la página de inicio de sesión para cambiar al español.
WHAT IF I HAVE A NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENT? WHAT IF DON'T SEE MY ENROLLED STUDENT IN ASCENDER PARENTPORTAL?
If you enrolled your student during summer enrollment, you must still complete annual registration forms. If you don't see your enrolled student when you log in, an Ascender ParentPortal ID is needed in order to link to your student and complete the annual registration forms.
Please email registration@lagovistaisd.net and your campus registrar to receive your student's Ascender ParentPortal ID. Please note that there may be slight delays in answering requests during peak times, such as this, but we will get it to you as quickly as possible!
Once you receive your student's Ascender ParentPortal ID from the campus registrar, please log into Ascender ParentPortal, select "Link to Enrolled Student", and enter the ParentPortal ID and the student's date of birth.
WHAT IF I SEE MY STUDENT, BUT DON'T HAVE A "REGISTRATION" OPTION?
In order to complete forms or update data for a student, the email address you have listed in Ascender ParentPortal must match what we have in our system. If you can see your student, but can't update any information, those email addresses do not match. We recommend updating and verifying your email address in Ascender ParentPortal. If you need us to change your email address in our system, please email registration@lagovistaisd.net and your campus registrar. You will be asked to provide your student's full name, date of birth, and grade level for verification purposes.
WHO IS MY CAMPUS REGISTRAR?
Lago Vista Elementary School (PK-3)
Christine Harris at charris@lagovistaisd.net
Lago Vista Intermediate School (4-5)
Gabby Mercado (Habla española) at gmercado@lagovistaisd.net
Lago Vista Middle School (6-8)
Monica Kaiser at mkaiser@lagovistaisd.net
Lago Vista High School (9-12)
Lisa Dohm at ldohm@lagovistaisd.net
NEED OTHER HELP?
Please email registration@lagovistaisd.net and your campus registrar.
Bell Schedule
Doors open at 8:10 - there will not be supervision before then...
1st Period - 8:40 - 9:32
2nd Period - 9:36 - 10:28
Advisory - 10:32 - 11:02
3rd Period - 11:06 - 11:58
A Lunch - 12:00 - 12:30
A 4th Period - 12:34 - 1:26
B 4th Period - 12:02 - 12:54
B Lunch - 12:56 - 1:26
5th Period - 1:30 - 2:22
6th Period - 2:26 - 3:18
7th Period - 3:22 - 4:15
Vaping = DAEP
HB 114 makes offenses involving the possession and/or or use of vapes a mandatory DAEP offense. School districts will now be required to place all students who are caught in possession and/or or using vapes (of any kind – not just those with drugs) into their DAEP.
Please share this with your children - it's just not worth it!
Important Dates Coming Up
Wednesday, October 25 - PSAT(8th Grade Only)
Monday and Tuesday, November 6 and 7 - Student Holiday
Lago Vista Middle School
Email: eholt@lagovistaisd.net
Website: www.lagovistaisd.net
Location: 8039 Bar K Ranch Road, Lago Vista, TX, USA
Phone: 512-267-8300