This new mobile outreach vehicle was made possible through community donations, support from Hays County and a grant from the Dripping Springs Community Foundation, according to a library news release. This exciting addition will expand access to library services across the growing community.

The journey to bring the Library on Wheels home was an adventure, with members of the library team traveling to Maryland to acquire the vehicle and driving it back to Texas. Local graphic designer Cathy Richardson created the design that is wrapped around the mobile library.

Created to help overcome transportation and access barriers, the Library on Wheels will connect families, seniors, students and lifelong learners to books, technology and meaningful library services, the release continued. As fundraising continues for a new library building, the bookmobile offers an immediate and innovative way to meet community needs.

Beginning in June, the Library on Wheels will hit the road, bringing books, programs and resources directly to residents throughout the 110-square-mile service area, with a full schedule of stops to be published soon at www.dscl.org.

The vehicle will have its permanent home at the Dripping Springs Community Library, located at 501 Sportsplex Drive.

The nonprofit began after a local decorated veteran died by suicide, said Melody Burns, treasurer of the Fireside Chat Support Network.

“Our founder and president and several others felt like there was an important need to do something about the suicide rate and [to] reach out to the veterans and first responders to help them deal with their [post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)] and the stresses from their lives,” explained Burns.

Since then, the support network has hosted weekly fireside chats at 12 Fox Beer Co. in Dripping Springs, where veterans can participate in a peer-led discussion.

This event has been helpful for many, said Burns, but she also noted that alternative therapies have been used to treat PTSD, such as sound, light, vibration, yoga and more. So, when Burns, who is also a beekeeper, discovered bee therapy, she knew it was something she wanted to begin implementing.

Though not widely popular in the United States, she explained that it has been used in Europe through air inhalation and beekeeping, which provides something to look forward to, while using a calm attitude and precision to tend to the bees. Organizations, such as Hives to Heroes, have implemented some of these practices, but Burns wants to focus on inhalation of bee air in her sessions.

“The buzzing of the bees, the vibration of the bees and the breathing of the bee air — the propolis infused air — that is around the beehives in Europe, those things are used for alternative healings and the thought is that the frequencies are calming and help to induce relaxation and will help the veterans and first responders sleep better,” Burns said.

There are companies in the United Kingdom that can ship out facilities for this, she said, but the cost has instead led her to create her own.

Funded through donations, the sauna-like building will have windows to prevent claustrophobia, a ramp for wheelchair accessibility and be large enough to house two benches, which will be filled with bees.

The therapy will be primarily for veterans and first responders, with availability by 30-minute slots, but may be opened to the public for a donation. Because towels are needed to lay on the bench, they can be purchased for a small price, if the individual doesn’t bring their own.

The facility is currently under construction, with an expected completion in May. After, the Fireside Chat Network Support will announce details on its Facebook, which can be found at bit.ly/48oihAd, for the opening at a later date.

WIMBERLEY — Hays County Precinct 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer hosted an open house Thursday, April 23, for the public to learn more about ongoing water supply planning and flooding assessments impacting the city of Wimberley and surrounding areas.

This follows the commissioners court authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement Jan. 20 with HDR Engineers, Inc. for a countywide water study — the first one done from the county’s perspective since 2011.

The current study will expand on the 2011 Water and Wastewater Facilities Plan, which was also conducted by HDR, according to representative Darren Thompson, who presented at the April 23 open house. They will look at the geography and growth patterns, population trends, municipalities, river authorities, groundwater conservation districts, regional and wholesale water providers and industrial customers, he said.

“The effort is an update, but it’s different. We are not doing as detailed of a look across the county. We are taking some of those deeper dives,” said Thompson, who noted the following goals of the study:

Provide a high-level overview of water-related resources, including water and wastewater providers, in Hays County

Evaluate and plan for current or projected water needs

Assess countywide flood risks and develop flood mitigation evaluations and projects

Evaluate sewer infrastructure needs in the Hillside Terrace neighborhood to address aging septic systems and flooding-related failures

Incorporate land-use and development policy impacts on water demand, growth and flooding into planning recommendations

Engage stakeholders across the county to communicate project goals, gather input and build support for future strategies

A specific portion is a localized water supply plan, Thompson explained, where, in Precinct 3, HDR is working with providers Wimberley Water Supply Corporation and Aqua Texas in Woodcreek.

“Working with the two utilities to get a better understanding of their customer base — the number of customers, the type of customers, their type of usage patterns … understanding how much they're producing on a day-to-day basis, how much they produce in a year, understanding their groundwater permits and their other supplies that they may have, whether it be reuse or such ... [helps us understand] how do you meet those needs," he said. "[With] the supplies that you have today, will it get you out into the future? And if so, how far and when you run out of those supplies, how do you supplement?"

Along with the specific area’s needs, as they relate to the water providers, Thompson said they will look at water supply opportunities, conservation and drought management and costs of the projects to develop an implementation to tie it into the regional plans: “A water supply plan developed from the local perspective, feeding back into the regional or the state plans.”

The annual production for Wimberley Water Supply Corporation has had a 37% decrease from 2003 to present day, as well as a 15% decrease since 2020. The water savings are also true for Aqua Texas, Thompson presented, with a 17% decrease since 2020.

“That's what we're seeing based off of data, but what is in the regional plan for the Wimberley area doesn’t quite match. So, [in the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) 2026] plan, it shows the population in the Wimberley area growing from 3,000 people to 25,000 people,” he said. “We know that hasn't been the case over the last several years because growth is pretty flat. So, we'll look at the growth of customer base for both the utilities, look at their service areas [and] we'll identify kind of a max build out of those service areas, so we can get a bigger picture of what could happen. That way we can plan more appropriately.”

One attendee asked if the decrease shown in the data for Aqua Texas was related to the outdoor watering enforcement. Thompson responded that a reduction in outdoor watering for any utility will cut the numbers for annual production drastically.

There were multiple attendees who asked about groundwater sustainability in the long-term, as compared to rainwater collection, as resources — like the aquifers — have been experiencing extreme stress.

“We are not scoped to go into that greater detail on the groundwater side. We will work with the groundwater districts to identify their permitting, their strategies moving forward, but we are not developing anything new on top of what they're already doing today or what they're planning on doing,” Thompson responded.

Commissioner Hammer, who oversees Precinct 3, added that there are different aspects that come along with the complex issue of water, with policy being a major one, as counties are not given wide authority and the local groundwater conservation district has the least amount of water authority in the state, as granted by Chapter 36.

She continued that the study is “one piece of a big puzzle” and is going to help give a good scope of water supply, as well as be a tool for the county’s rewrite of the subdivision regulations.

“One of those could be potentially increasing the amount, right now, you have to have six acres or more if you're building five lots if you're going to drill a well,” Hammer said. “Maybe we increase that. Maybe this is going to tell us that we don't have the water. It's probably going to, I am just saying that, but these are all the things that are going to help us develop good policy to go to the legislature and to ask for things.”

The final component presented was that HDR will also collaborate with county commissioners and local stakeholders — with an influence from community input — to identify one flood mitigation project in each precinct to help reduce local flood risk and ensure that TWDB project criteria is met.

HDR is working with commissioner Hammer's office to find an online location to post the meeting materials. Feedback and questions can be sent to HaysCoWater@hdrinc.com.

The public is invited to three more open houses related to the countywide water study, along with localized water supply plans:

Precinct 1, hosted by commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, at 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the San Marcos Activity Center

Precinct 2, hosted by commissioner Michelle Cohen, at 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 (location to be finalized)

Precinct 4, hosted by commissioner Walt Smith, at 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, at Dripping Springs Ranch Park

In 2020, approximately 300 acres for the park were donated to the city and then, the district applied for permits for Wildwood Springs Elementary School in 2024. Around that time, the city had identified the district’s property as the most logical access point to Rathgeber, leading to conversations with the district on coordination for realignment of access, according to city of Dripping Springs planning director Tory Carpenter.

The first interlocal agreement — initially presented at the Tuesday, April 21, Dripping Springs City Council meeting — is for the road and easement.

Phase 1 of the road has already been constructed by DSISD as primarily bus or delivery access, but not the main entrance, and it was designed to allow for further extension to the north to Rathgeber, which is identified as Phase 2 that will be constructed by the city.

With the ILA, the city would be able to construct a public road, including utility extension, drainage, sidewalks and lighting. The main restriction is prohibited parking in the area, primarily because of safety and access issues related to the school.

“The goal and the main outcome of this is the school district granting an easement, most likely classified as a right-of-way easement, that would function for all intents and purposes as city right-of-way for purposes of accessing Rathgeber [Natural Resource] Park,” Carpenter explained. “The benefit of doing it as an easement is the city can outline specific terms of any restrictions or any concerns or considerations that may be tied with that area.”

The exact boundary of the easement will be determined after the schematic design of Phase 2, Carpenter said, as well as another exhibit — known as form of easement — with specific terms of the ILA embedded into the easement document that will be inserted at a later date.

“I know the boundaries of the easement aren’t exact yet. The road is also not set in stone on that curvature. We’ve got to wait and see,” said Mayor Bill Foulds. “The [topography] right there is pretty difficult and the district was concerned … and wanted to make sure we would be able to move the road if we needed to, so that road may deviate a little bit, just like the easement.”

Council member Taline Manassian asked if there would still be an ILA if an agreement is not made on the location of the road, questioning the exhibit, or form of easement, that Carpenter mentioned.

Deputy city attorney Laura Mueller said that her recommendation would be to leave out the form of the easement in the ILA, adding that council can direct staff to finalize it in consultation with the city attorney and administrator.

Another option would be if the district does not follow the terms by providing the easement within six months, then the other ILA would either terminate automatically or by council action, Mueller and Carpenter explained.

The second ILA is related to the development and regulations. What led to this was council's approval of a tree removal waiver Jan. 20, contingent on the adoption of an ILA between the district and city by May 1. Then, at its next meeting, council approved a delay in the payment of site development permit fees until May 20.

According to Carpenter, the five-year agreement does the following: establishes development standards for school facilities; establishes review timelines and process; addresses trees, lighting and signage; defines fees and cost responsibilities; and applies to all projects in the city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction.

A component of the ILA is base fees — everything written into the city’s fee schedule that is tied with acreage, square footage or some metric — are waived. However, the district would need to pay third-party review costs plus 20%, Carpenter explained.

The planning director continued that, consistent with a lot of other jurisdictions, heritage trees are defined as from 18 inches in diameter to 24 inches. Mitigation for these would be reduced from a 3:1 ratio to a 1:1, with a fee in lieu decreasing from $450 per inch to $150 per inch.

“If their fee in lieu exceeds up to $10,000 by the calculation, there would be a cap on that. We ran some assumptions and it would really have to be a pretty tough situation, a heavily treed site, for that to be the case,” Carpenter said. “The district made it clear that they really don't want to have to pay $10,000 an acre. That’s a worse case scenario.”

Negotiations also found alternative mitigation options — something that is not currently written in the city’s code — which include rainwater and condensate reuse, as well as drought-adapted landscaping.

Following executive session on both items, council approved both ILAs in two separate 3-2 votes, with Manassian and council member Travis Crow dissenting and Foulds acting as the tie breaker, as council member Sherrie Parks was absent from the meeting.

After council’s discussion, the DSISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved both ILAs with the city of Dripping Springs at its Monday, April 27, meeting.

“This body has strived, as the city's and Hays County’s largest builder and landowner projects, to have a, basically, for a lack of a better term, development agreement with the municipality that has a large ETJ that most of our schools reside within,” said trustee Rob McClelland, who motioned for the approval of both of the agreements.

“It's huge for our district. It's huge for our taxpayers. It's huge for our city council. It's amazing for us — two government entities — to be working so closely together and making sure that our community is in the forefront of the conversation,” shared trustee Tricia Quintero. “It's not about us or them and I appreciate all the city council members who agree with the agreement and I hope that the ones that didn't necessarily agree with the agreements can come alongside us and move forward together in the future.”

The public can access recordings of the city council meetings at drippingsprings-tx.municodemeetings.com, as well as the school board meetings at www.dsisdtx.us/page/board-meeting-livestream.

Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz began the program by sharing the progress of The DSISD Strategic Plan: Future Ready 2030.

“Two years ago, we entered into strategic planning, which was a yearlong endeavor for us,” she said. “The focus of that really was to bring our community in and make sure that as we were moving forward as a district, we were moving forward with our community and really thinking about what did our community need from their school system.”

The goals, the superintendent explained, centered around academics, counseling and resources, human resources — taking care of staff — connecting with the community and improving communications, which the district has focused on for the last two years.

In the first year — the 2024-25 school year — there was an emphasis on curriculum. This effort worked to ensure consistent alignment of course offerings across all campuses and establish a clearly defined curriculum for all courses.

Academic goals for year two include providing students with authentic opportunities to solve problems and develop academic, technical and interpersonal skills.

Another area of focus in year one was a comprehensive counseling and advising framework. This allowed the district to focus on interventions for students in year two, said Morris-Kuentz.

The final accomplishment in year one was establishing a comprehensive hiring framework to recruit and onboard quality staff. Now, in year two, the focus has been professional development.

“Our education foundation actually sponsored our mentor program and so, we've built a very robust mentor program this year, which has allowed us to really take care of those early career teachers who are the first or second year in the classroom and helping make sure they have a really strong foundation as teachers and then, stay in our school system,” Morris-Kuentz concluded.

Dr. Karen Kidd, assistant superintendent for learning and innovation, began her portion of the presentation by highlighting standout academic achievements in the district, including that it outperforms the region and the state in both the STAAR testing and Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) achievement and growth.

Additionally, students outperform the state and national average of SAT and ACT testing regularly. For example, in 2025, the National SAT Average was 1029 and the Texas SAT Average was 971. DSISD’s average was 1125. In the same year, both the National and Texas ACT averages were 19.4, while DSISD’s average was 24.4.

Furthermore, Kidd discussed the programming available in DSISD schools, which includes 21 areas of study for Career and Technical Education. As of April 22, 230 students earned industry-based certifications this school year.

“That means our high school graduates can go right into industry and start earning money when they're going to college or working on their career or in the military.,” she explained.

Next up was Chief Operations Officer (COO) Scott Berry, who discussed operations and construction for the district.

To start, he gave an overview of the district’s financial scope, including:

• Annual budget: $100.2 million

• 2023 Bond Program: $223.7 million. There is approximately $50 million left to issue from this program.

• 2025 Bond Program: $406.7 million. Approximately half of these funds have been issued to date.

Additionally, Berry highlighted interesting facts about the district, which include 1.8 million square feet — equivalent to the U.S. Capitol, the Taj Mahal and the Alamodome combined — of buildings maintained, 6,000-plus meals served daily, 1,000-plus technical support requests per month and 5,000 miles — equivalent to the distance between Dripping Springs and London — driven by transportation each day.

The COO then shared the status of various construction projects, starting with High School No. 2, for which construction began Nov. 17, 2025, with a total budget of $298.8 million. According to Berry, construction is on track and the Naming and Branding Committee is underway, but the name, colors, mascot and opening plans have not been decided.

Another major project for the district is renovations at Dripping Springs High School. With a total project budget of $51.1 million, construction will begin in the summer with replacement of the HVAC system. Additional renovations include updated flooring, walls, lighting and some plumbing.

Rounding out the construction discussion was the renovations at Rooster Springs Elementary School, which will also begin this summer. This $25.8 million project will include updates to the library, along with HVAC updates and new lighting, floors and finishes.

Following Berry’s update, Morris-Kuentz took the microphone again to discuss the most recent demographic updates for DSISD, with data collected and analyzed by PASA.

“So, PASA, who's our demographer, what they do is they collect background data. They're going and talking with developers about what they're anticipating in the next 10 years for their developments. They talk with the city, they talk with water districts, they're taking and geocoding where kids live versus where they go to school in our district, which helps us understand that,” the Morris-Kuentz said. “They're also looking at things like voucher programs, where kids are going outside of our district; if they live in Dripping Springs ISD, but don't go to school here. They're analyzing housing and economic trends and then, they give that back to us in terms of enrollment projections for the district and then, that helps us with long range planning.”

One of the things determined by the recent study was where the district is in the demographic lifecycle, which is broken down into four segments: emerging growth, high growth, approaching stabilization and stabilization. While some parts of the district are approaching stabilization, Morris-Kuentz explained that, overall, it is still considered to be in high growth.

As far as enrollment trends, PASA compared DSISD to other area schools between 2019 and 2024. In that time, the district added 1,502 students, ranking seventh in growth amongst area districts. Additionally, enrollment grew by 21%, which leaves the district at eighth highest percentage growth.

“One of the things that tells us that we're going to continue to be a fast growth district is our kindergarten enrollment,” said Morris-Kuentz, as she showed a graph with the birth rate and kindergarteners being enrolled in schools. “So, our kindergartners outpace our birth rate, which tells us that we still have young families moving into our community and being a part of our schools.”

This is different from other parts of the state, she explained, where the birth rate is higher than kindergarteners, which shows that young families are moving out of areas when their kids reach school age to go to suburbs, such as DSISD.

When looking at students per home, the superintendent showed that the rate for students per single family home has not changed much in the past 10 years, as it varies between 0.51 and 0.57 in any given school year.

What has changed is the amount of students per home in multi-family housing.

“So, right now, we have a lot of apartments moving in and often what I hear from people is, ‘Oh, you've got apartments. That's going to mean really big growth for the district.’” Morris-Kuentz said. “It doesn't for us anymore. Part of that is these newer apartments have high rental rates and they also have high payments. And so, that's a lot of young professionals moving into apartments, but it's not a lot of young families.”

She continued, stating that elementary enrollment is a clear indicator that most of the growth for the district is coming from master-planned communities, such as Highpointe, with 0.82 students per home, Belterra, with 0.74 students per home, and Headwaters, with 0.54 students per home.

Another area looked at by PASA was the impact of alternative education opportunities on DSISD. What the study found is that approximately 300 students who reside in the Dripping Springs area go to a private school or charter school: “But it's not a really big impact in terms of changes to our district enrollment,” the superintendent clarified.

Looking ahead, single-family developments are poised to have the biggest impact on enrollment, with 78% of new housing projections in the next decade being single family.

The five largest developments include:

• Village Grove: Additional 511 units

• Caliterra: Additional 419 units, for a total of 969 units

• Wild Ridge: Additional 863 units

• Double L Ranch: Additional 1,600 units, for a total of 2,170 units

• Penn Ranch: Additional 946 units, for a total of 1,121 units

With these developments, plus others, the study estimates 13,644 additional housing occupancies in the next decade, with 10,722 coming from single-family housing.

“So, when our demographer summarized our study, what they really told us is we have a strong market. Our area has a highly educated family base, so typically, 60% of our residents have a bachelor's degree. Our home prices are a little bit high. They are about 40% over the state average,” Morris-Kuentz summarized. “Our near-term growth, or what's projected in the next five years, is very solid when you look at what we're estimating for the new developments that are coming in, all of those are already started. So, those aren't going to change. Looking out 10 years and beyond, that's where things could change. And all of that really is based upon this utility capacity; it depends upon water and wastewater. So, if those communities who are planning don't get access, then that could continue to change for us.”

Finally, the superintendent shared the enrollment forecast for the next 10 years. Currently, enrollment is at 8,808 students. The projections show the growth in three scenarios:

• Reduced scenario: 10, 459 students

• Accelerated scenario: 14,976 students

• 10-year forecast: 12,942

“That's a slight change from the last time we had this update. They were estimating us to be closer to 13,000 to 18,000 and so, that has been adjusted down a little bit,” she explained. “Like I said, that growth is slowing a little bit, which is not a bad thing for us. It's just a change that I think it's worth noting.”

For more information on DSISD bonds, growth and demographics, visit www.dsisdtx.us/o/bp.

According to assistant director of Finance Joshua Chronley, the idea for the six-month pilot program began last year when several former council members were “very interested in just trying to help people as the economy was going through some unknowns.” Then, $60,000 was allocated inside of the fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 water utilities budget for the program.

Although council had expressed a need to help residents, it wasn’t until Chronley brought forward UCAP earlier this year that the program began to form.

Originally, staff looked for a partnership to do verification for need for applicants, but the cost was going to exceed the amount of relief that the city was going to be able to provide. So, the city is instead doing it itself.

“The idea is that residents can get assistance on any of these utility bills tied to [the city of] Kyle. So, if they are a Kyle water user, if they are a wastewater user, if they use us for storm water or their trash and they’re experiencing financial hardship, they could be eligible for some short-term relief,” explained the assistant director. “That relief can come in the form of [paying] an outstanding balance. We can apply up to $600 per individual or per account holder of relief to try to help them. That’s usually about three or four months worth of a utility bill, depending on the nature of how many services they have and what their utilization levels are.”

Those using Kyle utility services can apply through a self-attestation model, meaning that customers certify themselves that they are experiencing financial hardship. Each account holder that is approved is able to utilize the entirety of the $600, whether it is all at once or throughout the year, meaning someone on a fixed income could use $50 a month to make bills more manageable over a period of time. This information would be explained in the application to better inform staff on what type of aid is needed.

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale stated that although limited, a program like this can positively impact the lives of residents: “I’ve heard from water users who have had to make difficult choices, like deciding between paying their water bill and buying medication or thinking twice about having friends and family visit, due to the water cost burden … Even a temporary program like this can provide a little breathing room for families who are doing their best to stay current. Water is not optional, and when costs rise or times get tough, that small measure of support can be the difference between staying afloat and falling behind.”

Although $60,000 was budgeted, only $30,000 is being used for the time being, but Chronley stated that if more funding is needed before the six months are up, then staff would ask council for approval.

After the pilot program ends, he stated that statistics will be brought back to council to determine if the aid should continue.

“[We’ll ask] of the roughly 19,000 customers we have, what does our application rate look like? What type of relief is being requested during this pilot period. Are applications mostly coming from people who have existing balances, who are already behind, or are they coming from customers who are just experiencing short-term interruptions to their income supply,” he said. “Then, for the budget discussions for FY 2027, we will be including [the option of] potentially doing this full time.”

Though the future of UCAP will be determined at a later date, Flores-Cale stressed that she hopes to create an environment where residents do not need to depend on aid.

“The goal is to build a city where people can afford to live, work and raise their families without that kind of strain,” said the mayor. “When times get tough, we should be there to lend a hand. That’s part of who we are. That’s also why we should support our nonprofits, who fill a gap. But our focus must be on the bigger picture, making sure this is a community that works for everyone, from students finding their footing to families putting down roots.”

To learn more information or to apply for UCAP, visit bit.ly/4mQZS54.

The public was invited to participate in the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the department, located at 405 E. Loop St. Suite 200, Buda. Those who were unable to make the event can still use the dropoff box in the lobby, which is available during normal business hours.

Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting, storing and using rain that falls on rooftops or other surfaces, which can then be used for irrigation, livestock and household uses — including consumption — when properly filtered and disinfected, according to the Hill Country Alliance, a nonprofit that works across 17 counties in the region to protect the land, night skies, character and water.

Due to more frequent droughts, increased population growth and a stress on limited groundwater supply, alternatives like rainwater harvesting have become a more viable option for many people.

“We are seeing groundwater decline across the region and so, as we think about what a resilient water feature looks like in Central Texas, it does mean diversifying our supplies, so that we're not just relying on groundwater. We've seen rainwater harvesting to be a reliable alternative when systems are designed correctly,” said Marisa Bruno, water program manager for the Hill Country Alliance.

There was a large rainfall in Central Texas last July that filled up the Highland Lakes, which was beneficial for the city of Austin, but groundwater levels within the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) jurisdiction still remained low, explained Shay Hlavaty, communications and outreach manager for the district. Now, the district is approaching — though it has not officially declared — Stage 4 drought, which has never been reached before.

“A lot of folks in our territory rely 100% on groundwater, along with at least 50% of Texans. Rainwater is a really great alternative, either to rely on it fully or to supplement people's well because whenever that rain falls, you catch like almost 100% of it,” Hlavaty said. “But with groundwater, when it rains, only a fraction of that amount of rain actually ends up in the aquifer, 5-10% of it. Even if it's going into those lakes and creeks and rivers, like those reservoirs and everything, there's a lot of evaporation happening out of those, too. So, by catching it directly, you can use it immediately.”

Bruno and Hlavaty both continued to emphasize the value of rainwater harvesting, which includes the following: the quality can often be better that what is found from groundwater; homeowners have more control of their system when needing to do maintenance and cleaning; and it can be less expensive than drilling a new or deeper well when supplies run low.

A 2025 study conducted by The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University found that rainwater harvesting can be used as a fully reliable water supply option in the state, even during severe drought periods. The study showed that a 3,000-square-foot roof with 30,000 gallons of storage can meet indoor household water needs statewide, as well as widespread rainwater harvesting would not reduce levels in rivers and aquifers — it would be less than a 1% reduction in runoff and recharge.

“What that report shows is that if you do have the sort of roof space or capture space size correctly and you have your storage space size correctly, you can survive even the drought of record. Even in a year with below average rainfall, with the system dry and designed correctly, you should have no issues getting through the year with that supply,” Bruno noted. “I think there's this myth around rainwater harvesting that because you're dependent on rainfall, it's not reliable, but we know it's going to rain. It might rain less in some years than in others, but it does always rain.”

There are some regulations on rainwater harvesting, depending on the specific system that is being used, said Bruno. She added that if someone is designing a rainwater harvesting system for their own personal use, there is limited regulation, but there could be more for commercial use.

Learn more about rainwater harvesting and specific systems at the following links:

• Hill Country Alliance: bit.ly/4sSonQA

• Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District: www.bseacd.org/rainwater-harvesting

At the council meeting, Buda Parks & Recreation director Tony Host and director of Community Relations Lysa Gonzalez gave a joint presentation to city council focused on the sportsplex’s rebrand.

Host opened the conversation by speaking on ongoing onsite renovations. DCS Engineering has been making improvements to the sportsplex with city oversight since the council authorized construction to begin last year. The expansion project includes four new softball fields, more than 800 extra parking spaces, batting cages, a concession stand and improvements to existing fields.

Council member Evan Ture noted that there has been “phenomenal progress” on the renovations, adding that, “On the city side, we’re trying to support quick development.”

The project is expected to see completion late this summer, according to the city’s website. The improvements will double the team capacity of the sportsplex, which Gonzalez expects will serve as an economic driver for the city.

The community relations director pointed to the high field revenue and tourism impact of the expanded sportsplex. The cost to rent a field is $500 per day, which adds up across the eight softball fields.

A two-day tournament at the facility can host 56 teams, whose players, coaches and supporters will expectedly spend money at Buda’s hotels, restaurants and stores. With that in mind, Ture calculated that it would bring in $10,000 of tax revenue.

Gonzalez acknowledged that the impact “could be less. It could be more, but, that is the goal we are trying to bring to our community each time there’s a tournament.”

The focus of the expansion is to book three to five multi-day tournaments and build a pipeline of 20-50 tournament organizers in year one. By year two, Gonzalez hopes for a curated tournament experience and sees the sportsplex becoming a “plug and play” host that achieves 50% or more repeat bookings.

Gonzalez described the positive impact of the expansion as “why Buda wins.” She stated that the updated facility would “position Buda as a go-to Central Texas tournament destination,” one that is high-quality, easy to use and locally supported.

According to the presentation, the target market for the expansion is broad: the southern half of the United States. Gonzalez and Host highlighted the focus on baseball/softball, soccer, flag football and lacrosse, as these are the sports that the facility currently supports.

Gonzalez added that people coming for tournaments can explore Buda while they’re in town and staff is working to partner with local businesses to devise deals for attendees. They are also working to include city brochures at concession stands and hotel front desks.

As the presentation wound down, Host clicked to one final slide showcasing a new name and logo for the sportsplex. The new design read, “Buda Championship Park” and depicted the words alongside a soccer ball, baseball, football and Texas flag in front of a red home plate.

Host and Gonzalez both pointed to the difficulty in finding a name. Host said he ran previous iterations through ChatGPT, but ultimately decided that the word “championship” positions the facility as one with premier, tournament-level competition.

Gonzalez said that people are “looking for athleticism, looking for challenge, [and] looking for competition.” She stated that it was a hard balance to find a name that reflected this and also spoke to the Buda brand as a relaxed, friendly community.

Among the council, most were supportive of the new name. Council member Monica Davidson spoke positively of the changes, but showed concern regarding the logo, asking, “Why do we have a baseball, but not a softball?” pointing to the popular use of the sportsplex for the latter sport.

Conversely, council member LaVonia Horne-Williams was on board with the logo, but felt the name fell short of capturing ambitions for the facility.

“I think what you are about to accomplish is bigger than that name. I don’t think ‘Championship Park’ speaks to what you’re doing there,” said Horne-Williams.

Council member Greg Bowles was “concerned about people not pronouncing Buda right,” but otherwise in favor of the name.

Continuing the same sentiment of Buda’s identity, council member Kimberly Goodman was worried that the logo lacks something city-specific. Though, she joked, “I don’t know what that would be. You can’t just put a wiener dog on there.”

Ture noted that before its renovations, the sportsplex reminded him of the ‘90s and felt out of date. He described moving away from that feeling as “interesting” and was “tending toward yes” on the name.

Host and Gonzalez were open to reconsidering the name or taking specific suggestions from council to address their concerns. However, Davidson pointed to the urgency of moving forward from a marketing standpoint.

“Going back to the drawing board and trying to envision what we’re all trying to say is going to make us lose more time,” said Davidson.

Because of this, she was willing to settle with the softball-absent logo for time’s sake and put forth a motion to approve the name and logo as presented.

“I love it. Let’s go for it,” concluded Mayor Lee Urbanovsky.

The motion passed 6-0 — council member Matt Smith was absent.

Buda City Council will meet next Tuesday, May 5.

Prior to the vote, Christina Courson, chief Human Resources officer, discussed the changes at the April 20 meeting, where she stated that it “reflects the changes that have been made in the budget reductions that were announced at the end of March. So, for example, the deputy academic officer position would be removed, the campus support specialist would be removed. All the different positions that were identified for reduction will be removed.”

There will also be changes in the work calendar, such as that for the attendance clerks, and suspension in degree stipends and incentive stipends for bilingual and special education positions.

The district will need to provide a “zero year” uncertified teacher salary, per state requirement, which must be lower than the “zero year” certified pay.

Courson stated that for years, librarians have existed on the nurse and teacher scale, but that the Texas Association of School Boards has stated that they should be instead listed as academic professional scale, though they will not be losing any money.

“This allows them to keep their $2000 [degree stipend] rolled into their salary,” said Courson.

Trustee Esperanza Orosco asked about the pay and stipend for new media specialist librarians. The reason for this new “lead stipend” is because the new budget eliminated head librarians at each school, instead replacing them with one general librarian at the middle and high school levels, who will partner with the onsite library technicians.

These positions will open for internal applications within the next week to allow the impacted librarians a chance to be selected for the position.

“Everybody will have a job next year. Of the seven impacted librarians, two would be selected. There is a current vacancy at Negley Elementary [School] for a librarian. So, one of the librarians may want to be a librarian at the elementary level and I have heard that there may be two other vacancies at the elementary level. If that’s the case, then that would bring it to five [librarians with jobs]. With two remaining, one has resigned — that would be the sixth one — and the seventh one was able to be selected for a different job at their current campus,” explained Courson. “So, each one of them is being taken care of, as far as a job for next year.”

There were also 22 public education information management system clerks that were impacted, five of which are still looking for jobs.

The chief HR officer also noted that there will not be a cost of living adjustment for any staff member for the upcoming fiscal year, though teachers that received a teacher retention allotment can keep it.

“I can say on behalf of this board that this is not the comp[senation] plan that we really wanted to pursue for next year, in light of what our funding challenges are, but I appreciate the thoughtfulness you’re putting into it to bring this item forward now, so that we can have some clarity,” said trustee Byron Severance.

The item was approved 7-0.

Additionally, the trustees approved two separate items to terminate eight probationary teacher contracts and a good cause teacher termination.

The agenda documents state that “probationary teacher contracts are issued for one-year terms and may be renewed for as many as three additional one-year periods” and notes that these terminations will “serve the best interests of the district, namely to eliminate the costs associated with the identified positions.”

The teachers that were identified in this process were advised to submit a resignation, though because none did, the board was required to terminate, resulting in a 7-0 vote.

The good cause teacher termination affected one individual, according to Courson. Documents state that the reason for the agenda item was to “exercise the authority provided in law and policy to terminate the employment of a term contract teacher currently serving a multiple year contract, expiring on June, 1, 2027.” The item passed unanimously.

The Hays CISD Board of Trustees will next meet at 5 p.m. Monday, May 11.

Prior to the regular meeting and following executive session, council member Michael Tobias motioned to approve director of Finance Perwez Moheet as the interim city manager, following the resignation of Bryan Langley, in a 6-1 vote, with council member Lauralee Harris dissenting.

“He has served the city of Kyle since 2010 as our city’s Finance director and with more than four decades of public service, he brings steady leadership, deep institutional knowledge and a calm presence that has earned the respect and trust of staff and everyone who has had the opportunity to work with him. Simply put, he is someone people believe in and that matters in moments like this. As we head into budget season and continue the important work before us, I am confident he will help guide our city with clarity and purpose,” said Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale on social media after the meeting.

Beginning in regular session, park planning and project manager Will Atkinson stated that this is the first time the city has had a Public Art Master Plan. In collaboration with the community, council, Arts and Cultural Board and the Parks and Recreation Board, “the plan establishes a foundational framework to guide how public art is planned, funding opportunities and how art integrates into our public spaces over time, supporting placemaking, cultural identity and long-term community value,” Atkinson explained.

After introducing the item, he invited Todd Bressi, public art consultant for Kyle, who reviewed the recommendations of the plan for council as the “final step of the process, which began last May.”

He shared that the purpose of a public art plan is to create a vision and goals for the city, identify opportunities and issues and outline implementation approaches. Because of this, Bressi clarified that it will not have a list of specific projects or funding.

Continuing on, he noted that there was immense support for public art from community members that filled out surveys, with less than a third expressing concerns about fiscal responsibility and divisive art.

“The goals are a bit more of focus statements about what are the specific things the city will try to accomplish and these are really driven by other city policies and by the feedback we got from the public. These include: making sure that public art really is expressive of what Kyle is and who Kyle is and what it’s all about [and] focusing on things that enhance residents' quality of life in places where people go in a community, like parks and recreational facilities,” said the consultant.

Potential locations include city-owned facilities, such as the library or parks, destination areas, VYBE Trails and more. Additionally, ideas involving community participation on small pieces, such as utility boxes, and temporary exhibitions with poetry, art and history were mentioned.

He stated that each of the art pieces don’t have to necessarily be a decorative element, as they could be functional. For example, there could be a garden or a splash area for children that is decorated with mosaic.

Other opportunities include murals, statues, art as bridge elements and more, all of which could lead to a future where “every visitor to Kyle encounters public art and remembers it as what makes Kyle a unique place for them to come and visit,” said Bressi.

As far as funding, the consultant stated that there could be donations of artwork, requiring artwork in development agreements, public art incentives through tax increment reinvestment zones, partnerships and more.

Ultimately, Bressi recommended focusing on the aforementioned art ideas and for council to encourage community proposals and incentivize art in private development, while creating an identity for the city.

“Even though there are hard decisions and challenges, public art can be a binding force. It can ground the city in its past, present and future. It can connect people across generations and across neighborhoods. It can reflect the best of Kyle’s traditions, its desire for connections and forward thinking,” concluded Bressi.

Flores-Cale praised the ability for council to choose locations for the art throughout the city, rather than the decisions being predetermined in the plan, adding that this is a “big step forward” for the city. Tobias shared the same sentiment, stating that he was in full support of the item.

The Public Art Master Plan was approved 7-0.

Next steps include preparing the Public Art Annual Work Plan and budget requests for fiscal year 2026-27, as well as developing plans for future projects.

Council also voted 6-0 to approve the first official Library Master Plan.

The plan began in November 2024 when the city contracted 720 Design as the master plan consultant. According to the presentation by director of library services Leslie Scott, the plan is “shaped by the voices, needs and aspirations of the Kyle community … [it] focuses on understanding how people use the library today and how it must evolve to serve a rapidly growing and changing community in the years ahead.”

The item has previously been presented to council, with options to enhance the library through onsite expansion, multiple branches or a new facility. Additionally, it was noted that staff had already been working on improvements through separating active and quiet zones, reconfiguring the circulation desk, collection reorganization and more.

“Our next step options could be to explore costs associated with book vending, book lockers or expand our mobile library opportunities. We could proceed with the Kyle Public Library landscape master planning for an outdoor community space [science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics] garden [for $26,730] … or proceed with the Kyle Public Library Master Plan phase two programming and concept design, which is really bond preparation, at $88,800,” said Scott.

She noted that the reasoning for including the landscaping plan was because community members were very interested in it when shown in surveys.

Flores-Cale shared a concern over the lack of preparation for slow growth, as the plan mentions 200,000 residents, but not for the in between of 75,000 or 150,000.

“We’re planning for this really far future and if we want to do these things, upgrades to the library, I’d like to see something that’s more attainable closer to [present] time,” said the mayor.

Scott stated that, currently, the city is exponentially behind on its library size, as it’s only fit to serve approximately 40,000 people. Despite this, she noted that there are options that could add onto the present facility.

Both Flores-Cale and council member Claudia Zapata voiced that they would like to see more equity within the plan, such as commitment to eastern accessibility.

“I hear a lot of good things and I think we’re on the right track. This master plan sets us on the right path because I think, first and foremost, we have to get on a path,” said Zapata.

Following an investigation, the department arrested math teacher Juan Gomez, 40, of Buda, and charged him with improper relationship between an educator and student. Additionally, Hays CISD immediately removed Gomez from the campus, placed him on administrative leave, and barred him from returning to the school or communicating with students and coworkers.

“Protecting students is paramount. The district takes swift action anytime there is an accusation involving activity that would harm students,” said Hays CISD chief communication officer Tim Savoy. “Employees of the district are granted positions of tremendous trust and if they fail that, they will meet with a swift and substantial response. Inappropriate behavior with students is anathema to the thousands of district employees who work tirelessly to provide safe spaces for students to learn and grow.”

Gomez was hired by Hays CISD to work at LHS in July 2023. He will not return to the campus while the criminal investigation and any subsequent court processes are underway, the district stated in a news release.

According to the district, all Hays CISD employees undergo fingerprint-based criminal background checks before they can be hired, as required by state law. Term-contracted teachers, such as Gomez, cannot be immediately terminated because they have employment-based due process rights that must be followed, the district continued. 

However, the district stated that it will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the students in its charge.

KPD is also working closely with school officials to ensure student safety remains the top priority. No additional information is being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation. 

The Hays Free Press will update this story as more information is made available.
 

Douglas Christopher, 32, and Troy Conway, 32, were taken into custody and face pending charges of organized retail theft.

Investigators determined the suspects used a serial number switching scheme to commit return fraud and have linked Christopher and Conway to multiple cases spanning from Austin to the San Antonio area. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to determine the full scope and financial impact of the operation. 

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact detective Struble with the Kyle Police Department at cstruble@cityofkyle.com or submit an anonymous tip through Hays County Crime Stoppers at callcrimestoppers.com or 1-800-324-TIPS.

This marks the sixth consecutive year Texas Mutual is investing in nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting working families and fortifying businesses. Over the past decade, Texas Mutual has invested more than $120 million to strengthen Texas communities, support businesses and help working families thrive, according to a news release.

“We’re proud to support the communities we serve and view this funding as a meaningful step toward a stronger Texas,” said Veronica Martinez, senior manager of impact and community partnerships at Texas Mutual. “By investing in organizations that remove barriers for working Texans, we’re helping create opportunities that reach beyond today and into the next generation. We’re honored to partner with these leaders as they strengthen families, fuel local economies and move our state forward.”

Texas Mutual will award funding through two community grant cycles, which will start this month. In the first grant cycle, Texas Mutual will seek to invest in initiatives that stabilize working households, so Texans can obtain and sustain employment and participate in economic opportunities. Funding will be awarded to projects that focus on:

•  Championing working parents by expanding access to quality early childhood education — ages 0-5 — or out-of-school time care for children, so that parents can obtain and retain stable employment

•  Prioritizing workforce wellness by ensuring working Texans are physically healthy through increased access to primary care

•  Enabling workforce advancement by facilitating access to essential basic needs, so that working Texans can obtain or retain stable employment, building a foundation for long-term economic mobility

Applications for the first grant cycle are now open and will close at 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 15.

The second grant cycle will bolster workforce development and safety training. Texas Mutual seeks to invest in organizations and initiatives focused on:

•  Developing a skilled workforce by preparing Texans for high-growth, high-wage middle-skill jobs through completion of apprenticeships or postsecondary credentials of value

•  Empowering small businesses by supporting initiatives that promote their resilience and the facilitation of new job growth

•  Reconnecting the disengaged workforce by connecting youth to supportive career pathways as a means of expanding the available labor force

Applications for the second grant cycle will open at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, and will close at 11:59 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11.

Grant amounts will vary by project needs and organization size. Applicants should request funding between $25,000 and $100,000 . To be eligible for grant funding, organizations must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization and demonstrate they are actively delivering assistance and services to Texas communities.

Visit www.texasmutual.com/communityfunding for more information.

Valentine has worked with the students, families and community in WISD since 2002. During his 24-year tenure with WISD, he has served the district across several key campus and district leadership positions, including the following: principal for Danforth Junior High School from 2008-2014; principal for Wimberley High School from 2014-2022; and the district’s assistant superintendent since 2022.

“It is hard to imagine WISD without Jason Valentine,” said Dr. Greg Bonewald, WISD’s superintendent. “He has positively impacted thousands across our Texan Family in his time here in Wimberley. We will undoubtedly miss the authentic spirit of servant leadership that he brings to our school community every day. At the same time, I am thrilled for him and his family and know that he will thrive in his next chapter as a leader in Texas public education.”

“Serving the students, teachers, parents and community in Wimberley ISD has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Valentine. “My family has grown in this community and Wimberley will always hold a very special place in the hearts of all the Valentines. My heart is full of gratitude and Texan Pride.”

In Texas, there is a mandatory 21-day waiting period following the naming of a district’s superintendent lone finalist. Valentine will continue to serve in his current role with WISD until the transition to his new role with Palacios ISD.

A two-time defending state champion, Gillum placed first out of 29 competitors in the Junior Division Individual Website category for her project, “The King’s Revolutions: Rethinking the Historical Significance of Elvis Presley in 1950s America.”

Gillum’s research included visits to archives at Graceland, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Briscoe Center for American History. She also traveled to Tupelo, Mississippi, to Elvis Presley’s childhood home and the church where he first performed. Her website explores how the rock-and-roll legend melded different musical genres, impacted race in the music industry and created a rebellious youth culture.

Gillum now advances to compete at the National History Day Contest June 14-18 at the University of Maryland, College Park. 

Rounding out the top 10 are Grant Gillum, Annie Reale, Allison Gorchs, Madeleine Sheppard, Evan Murphy, Kaleb Oliphant, Kyle Kreuz and Caroline Rhodes.

These students will be recognized at the DSISD Board of Trustees meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 27, the Senior Academic Awards Ceremony May 13 and the DSHS graduation ceremony May 22.

Below is a list of the top 10 seniors, along with the universities they plan to attend and their intended fields of study.

Class of 2026 Top 10 Seniors

Valedictorian: Sanvi Surapaneni (Texas A&M University, Biomedical Engineering, Pre-Med)

Salutatorian: Bella Rose (University of Texas at Austin, Neuroscience)

Third: Grant Gillum (Stanford University, History, Economics)

Fourth: Annie Reale (Undecided, Piano Performance)

Fifth: Allison Gorchs (University of Texas at Austin, Philosophy on Pre-Law track)

Sixth: Madeleine Sheppard (University of Texas at Austin, Psychology)

Seventh: Evan Murphy (University of Rochester, Music Performance)

Eighth: Kaleb Oliphant (Brigham Young University, Applied Computational Mathematics)

Ninth (Tied): Kyle Kreuz (University of Texas at Austin, Neuroscience)

Ninth (Tied): Caroline Rhodes (University of Texas at Austin, Nutrition with Pre-Med)

This follows recent legislative changes adopted by the state of Texas, including House Bill 2844 and the addition of Chapter 437B to the Health and Safety Code, which significantly impact the regulation of these establishments and vendors, making the city of Wimberley’s section outlining temporary structures in its code of ordinances no longer consistent with state law.

“New state law is going to prevent us from enforcing our temporary structure permits, which basically governs food trucks in Wimberley. It’s going to prevent us from doing that the same way we have been doing it, which is permit application comes to city council [and] city council approves the food truck,” said Nathan Glaiser, director of Development Services. “We can no longer do the one-off permitting of food trucks.”

Glaiser brought forward a draft of regulations taken from existing ordinances enforced by the city of Lockhart, but tailored to the city of Wimberley.

The ordinance is geared toward mobile food vendors that stay at one location for more than four consecutive days — so, the one-off person who comes to do a single farmers market or something similar would not be affected, Glaiser said.

Regulations within the draft include, but are not limited to:

•   Each trailer or motor vehicle used as a mobile vendor must be registered with the city and have a current mobile food unit permit used by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

•   Current compliance with all applicable Texas inspection and license registration requirements for legal use on public streets.

•   Only operate in zoning districts where eating establishments are a permitted use.

•   Mobile food vendors shall be set back at least five feet from all property lines.

•   Each mobile food vendor shall be located at least 10 feet from any other mobile food vendor or any building and at least 50 feet from any building containing a residential use.

•   If a mobile food vendor is hooked up to electric, it should be connected to an individual main-disconnect breaker and the cords are not running through a parking lot or pedestrian path.

•   Each mobile food vendor space shall obtain water from, and within 50 feet of, a hose bib connected directly to a public water supply. This should also not cross the path of pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

•   It should not be connected directly to the city wastewater system.

Access to a common dumpster or other trash disposal facility, along with restrooms, must also be provided.

“They are all kind of based around public safety and organization and efficient land use,” said the Development Services director.

Council member Bob Clark asked if the city is going to limit the number of food trucks on a property or if that is not possible.

The city should still enforce zoning as far as where the food trucks will be located and those specific regulations can be stated in the ordinance, city attorney Esther Pena suggested. She added that there are some misconceptions with the state legislation that now, food trucks can be placed anywhere, but that is not the intent and cities still have regulatory authority to decide where they want to place them.

“What we’ve also talked about doing is setting up a food court use that would require a conditional use permit, so you would come get the permit to set up the food court, not necessarily each individual food truck, but just bring a site plan that shows the bays that they will be in and get approved by city council,” Glaiser said, noting that two or more mobile food vendors on a single lot or parcel can be known as a food court.

Another council member, Rebecca Minnick, said that this is called a temporary structure, leading her to ask if this would apply to anything else aside from a mobile food vendor. Glaiser responded that he wants the mobile food vendors to be in their own category, so there is no confusion.

The new law goes into effect July 1 and the ordinance is expected to be brought back for city council approval in June, according to Glaiser.

Wimberley City Council meets next at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7. Find meeting agendas and recordings at www.wimberleytx.portal.civicclerk.com.

Drake brings an extensive background in healthcare administration and a proven track record of driving operational excellence, leading strategic growth initiatives and advancing high-quality patient care, stated a news release.

Drake joins Ascension Seton Hays after spending the last seven years as a chief operating officer (COO) at St. David’s HealthCare, most recently serving at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center.

Prior to her tenure in Austin, Drake served as the COO at Shelby Baptist Medical Center, a 252-bed hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. In this role, she provided administrative and financial oversight for an array of hospital services and spearheaded several major capital projects. These included a surgical suite expansion, featuring a new hybrid operating room, and the construction of an electrophysiology lab to expand cardiovascular services.

Her leadership background also includes serving as the Western Region chief business development officer for Prospect Medical Holdings, an organization owning 20 acute care and behavioral health hospitals across six states, and as market chief strategy officer for Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen and Brownsville. Additionally, she has held roles as acting COO and assistant CEO of Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, along with administrative specialist and compliance positions at Lake Granbury Medical Center and Northwest Medical Center.

"We are thrilled to welcome Megan to Ascension Seton Hays and look forward to the vision and leadership she will bring to our hospital and the communities we serve," said Jamie Youssef, CEO for Ascension Texas.

Drake earned a master’s degree in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and a bachelor’s degree in biology from The College of Charleston. She is also an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Each year, Hays CISD recognizes the individuals who were named as their campus Volunteer of the Year for the efforts in helping their local school community. In addition, Hays CISD also honored those who were named as Mentors of the Year, Community Volunteers of the Year and Partnerships of the Year.

Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright applauded the efforts of the district volunteers, mentors and business partners whose efforts go a long way toward helping the district and its respective campuses. This year, Hays CISD has a grand total of 7,400 volunteers who have logged more than 14,000 hours of work — the volunteers have contributed more than $462,000 worth of time toward its students.

The 2025-2026 Hays CISD Volunteers of the Year are listed below.

Elementary School Volunteers of the Year

Elza Romero – Blanco Vista Elementary School

Erika Reyes – Buda Elementary School

Abigail Laake – Camino Real Elementary School

Michelle Schwartz – Carpenter Hill Elementary School

Nicole Miller – Cullen Elementary School

Martin Danner – Elm Grove Elementary School

Jennifer Lancaster – Fuentes Elementary School

Abby Tedlock – Tom Green Elementary School

Teresa Bullock – Hemphill Elementary School

Karine Zepeda – Kyle Elementary School

Melissa Haase – Negley Elementary School

Becki Robledo – Pfluger Elementary School

Amber Nelson – Ramage Elementary School

Laurie Stradling – Science Hall Elementary School

Cristyn Cordova – Sunfield Elementary School

Brandi Sanchez – Tobias Elementary School

Bertha Martinez – Uhland Elementary School

Middle School Volunteers of the Year

Abigail Campbell – Barton Middle School

Anastasia Skiles – Chapa Middle School

Casey Jensen – Dahlstrom Middle School

Fabiola Sanchez – McCormick Middle School

Jessica Gindlesperger – Simon Middle School

Tiffany Cortez-Machado – Wallace Middle School

High School Volunteers of the Year

Johanna Bergmann – Hays High School

Leslie Piggott – Johnson High School

Anastasia Skiles – Lehman High School

Craig Holloway – Live Oak Academy

Community Volunteers of the Year

Mary Gartner – Hays Clothes Closet

Debbie Condel, DLC Financial Service – HaysHope2Go

Mentors of the Year

Julie Barschow – Seedling Mentor Program

Tim Rigsby – Blanco Vista Elementary School

Marjie Kelley – Kyle Elementary School

Mary Kemp – Ramage Elementary School

Michael Ramirez – Chapa Middle School

Business Partnerships of the Year

Frost Bank

CORE Construction

Joeris General Contractors

Dunaway

Ally Medical

Although the low cost and easy accessibility of chatbots may seem particularly appealing to youth, there are concerns, such as delayed social skills, attached to their increasing and continued usage.

AI is designed to attract users and keep them coming back. Alternatively, licensed therapists are trained to maintain boundaries and encourage independence.

Additionally, when using chatbots, many individuals experience validation, or an echo chamber of their own beliefs. Human therapists, unlike chatbots, are trained to encourage self-reflection, challenge and hold individuals accountable for their actions.

Youth may also seek out AI because talking to another person can feel uncomfortable at times or even awkward. However, building a relationship with another person, such as in a therapeutic setting, can allow for youth to acknowledge, address and unpack feelings and build resiliency, while practicing and developing emotional and social skills long term.

Learning about AI is essential to helping community members understand best practices to utilize this tool to their benefit, as well as making sure youth are informed and supported.

Throughout the month of April, in addition to this article series, Hays-Caldwell Women's Center will be sharing content across all social media platforms, as well as participating in community events. For updates on upcoming events, follow HCWC using the @HCWCenter handle on Facebook, Instagram and X.

The item, brought forward by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra, would direct county staff to include funding in the proposed FY 2027 budget for a “High-Intensity Development Review Division” within the department, as well as develop job descriptions, salary data and proposed divisional structure, as needed.

Becerra shared that his intention for the item is to bring no additional cost to the county, but increase the duties of a current employee within the Development Services Department to include further oversight, such as that of water availability, and evaluation of proposed developments.

“We are only setting up the mechanism to process what we know is coming … We have large industrial users coming. We have a myriad of conversations taking place not only through our county and neighboring counties, but even at the capitol, there are hearings taking place,” he shared.

The court passed a resolution last year that the water availability studies would be going to the groundwater conservation district for hydrologist review for approval and then, sent back to the county. However, according to commissioner Morgan Hammer, that has not been done “to my necessary belief as frequently as maybe we should,” but this division could address that, along with other checkpoints.

She also echoed Becerra’s sentiments that this would not create a new position, but it can exist within the current department.

Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe shared that she likes the idea of speaking with Development Services to see what would be best moving forward, as well as cited the countywide water study and rewrite of the subdivision rules and regulations as items the court can also focus on.

Some members of the public expressed their dissatisfaction with the possibility of this new division, including Kenneth Rocha, who sent in an email that laid out the taxpayers’ concerns.

“Is this new division actually about protecting our water, land and electrical resources or is it about expanding government control through administrative circumvention? If this initiative is just about data, then why can’t existing Development Services engineers/staff handle the data gathering?” Rocha questioned.

His comment continued to “recall in the fiscal year 2026 budget review that you already added 53 new [full-time employees] at a cost of $4.3 million and we are already using $7.6 million in one time reserves just to keep the general fund afloat. Since this new division is designed to review projects that may never reach the permitting stage, if rejected, we're essentially voting to add permanent high salary positions to [a maintenance and operations] budget that's already 63% payroll. Adding permanent review [full-time equivalent positions] now effectively creates a permanent structural deficit that must be fulfilled by property tax increases.”

Alongside those of residents, some commissioners also raised concerns about creating the High-Intensity Development Review Division.

The county currently being without a Development Services director and unclear information about the financial impact were two concerns brought forward by commissioner Michelle Cohen.

“My hope is that individual would come in and be able to assess and see what we can do to help address these issues with the staff that we have internally. I do think the initiative does need to be led within that office. I always kind of thought we needed somebody focused on the water issues like you're talking about, Judge Becerra, and so, someone just keeping their eye on the ball,” she said. “But, as of right now, just for me, I need to know more about the fiscal impact and how the Development Services can better address the issue and what we're maybe not doing in that department in regards to water.”

Commissioner Walt Smith explained that the court only has authority that is specifically given by the state and under those regulations, there is not a clear definition of what would be considered a high-intensity development.

“We are mandated by the state to treat every development in a similar fashion, whether it’s a mom and pop who wants to put … an auto shop in their garage or a data center. We have to look at all of them the exact same way,” Smith said.

He also noted, echoing Cohen’s comments, that the better course of action would be to allow the department staff to structure and outline the necessary positions as they see fit.

“At a base level, to establish a division to give additional scrutiny to certain projects, I don't think we have the legal authority to do it. I'm 99.99% sure we don't and I think it would just be opening ourselves up for liability,” Smith continued. “Now, giving staff direction at this point without taking action to say, ‘Please review this and once we hire a director and you do your budget submission, keep this in mind,’ I think that's a better course of action.”

After further discussion, commissioners ultimately directed staff to work with the department to make recommendations on the effort.

To listen to the full meeting, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/commissioners-court-live-stream.

The presentation on the Finance and Audit Committee follows council’s request at the Feb. 3 meeting for a history of the committee and potential options.

According to director of Finance Perwez Moheet, the Kyle Committee on Finance & Audit was first created in 2006. It had a total of seven members, consisting of six residents and a council member, with two-year terms. The duties were to advise the council and staff on investment policies, monitor the city funds on a quarterly basis, review the adequacy of internal financial controls and make recommendations and to carry out other advisory or volunteer needs.

This was changed in 2011, when an ordinance amended the membership and required all seven members to be residents, followed by the selection for a chairperson and vice chairperson in 2012.

Then, in 2013, it was decided that two seats would be added, with the following guidelines:

• One resident chosen from each single member district

• Three residents chosen from the city at large

• One chair person chosen from the city at large

• Two alternate members chosen from the city at large

The then-Strategic Planning & Finance Committee, was officially abolished in 2015. All duties and responsibilities were to be directed to council.

When discussing what council may want to consider for the new committee, Moheet noted that an effective Audit & Finance Committee helps protect and safeguard taxpayer funds, increases public trust and improves financial discipline and controls. Additionally, financial oversight responsibilities are not limited to, but may include: financial planning and reporting, independent annual financial audit, risk management, debt management and any specific financial matters requested by council.

Out of Kyle’s standard 10 peer cities, only Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock did not have a finance committee.

Moheet then presented council with three options for reinstatement:

Option one:

• Council members make up the seats

• Three year terms

• Meets as needed

Option two:

• Council members and residents make up the seats

• Three year terms

• Meets as needed

Option three:

• Council customizes the meeting structure, term length, frequency of meetings and who sits on it

“With everything in the air as far as our finances and where we’re at and where our economy is nationwide and statewide and locally, it would be a good suggestion to maybe look back at a committee [and] bringing something like this back,” said council member Michael Tobias. “To me, looking at it, I would support an item like this, going with option two.”

He then clarified that despite internal auditors being used by staff, a committee with seven people, with preferably residents that have experience in banking, would be beneficial. Tobias also recommended quarterly meetings.

“We can have so much conversation about what [the financials are and] we can have public comment to see where we’re at. I think it would be even better to have something like that because you have residents involved they can have a say and you have checks and balances,” said Tobias.

Agreeing with Tobias’ preference for qualifications was council member Marc McKinney, who stated that it was a “need.”

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale stated that she is in favor of a Finance and Budget Committee because she “would love that feedback” from residents on how their money should be spent. Conversely, council member Claudia Zapata was against this idea, stating that the budget process needs to be improved overall, rather than potential biases from those sitting on the committee.

Following discussion, Moheet stated that he will bring back a draft ordinance at an upcoming council meeting regarding the committee.

An item to reconsider a failed item from the April 7 meeting was brought forward by council member Courtney Goza. She stated that at the time of the initial vote to amend the Rules of Council and Code of Conduct, Zapata didn’t have any examples of what she was hoping to change, but, later, posted to social media with clarity on the potential amendments, such as establishing basic standards and appropriate workplace boundaries. So, Goza felt as though it deserved another chance.

The motion to reconsider passed 6-1, with council member Claudia Zapata dissenting.

After determining that council would like updated information on the current Rules of Council and policies for boards and committees and what possible changes could be made, a motion was made to direct the city manager to bring back the existing requirements, as well as bring a presentation on potential options for changing or other considerations for professional conduct, public communication and engagement with residents, colleagues, staff and council.

The motion passed 7-0.

Council also unanimously approved Langley’s resignation.

“I want to acknowledge Mr. Langley’s service to the city of Kyle. Although we didn’t always see eye to eye, we stayed focused on the work and kept this city moving forward. Kyle is in a very different place today than it was three years ago and that did not happen by accident. The procedures put in place during his time here have had a real impact and he played a direct role in that,” said Flores-Cale.

Langley’s last day in the office will be May 8, with availability, if needed, through May 15, though he will not be in office.

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/41BkODn.