Fire at Liberty Hill ISD Transportation Facility Con...

Sunday, Mar 16 2025

Liberty Hill ISD Purchasing department earns prestig...

LIBERTY HILL, Texas  – The Liberty Hill ISD Purchasing Department has been recognized by the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) with the 2025 Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations , marking the district’s fifth consecutive year receiving this honor. Established in 2009, the Award of Merit recognizes Texas school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and education service centers that demonstrate excellence in the acquisition of goods and services while adhering to professional standards. For 2025, only 80 recipients statewide met the criteria for this recognition. “We’re proud of the work our honorees do to streamline school purchasing operations, comply with regulations, and set the standard for how to utilize taxpayer dollars,” said  Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO executive director. “These organizations have not only demonstrated their professional acumen by documenting their districts’ policies and procedures but have also shared these best practices with colleagues throughout Texas.” LHISD Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero and Purchasing Coordinator Kim Chappius accepted the award during the 2025 TASBO Annual Conference in Austin on Feb. 26.

Tuesday, Mar 04 2025

Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees Approves 2025-26 ...

LIBERTY HILL, Texas –  After extensive feedback from parents, teachers, and staff, the Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees officially approved the  2025-26 academic calendar  during its regular meeting on February 18, 2025. The newly adopted calendar introduces strategic changes aimed at supporting teachers while maintaining our mission of building future-ready graduates. Balancing Needs and Feedback Throughout the decision-making process, LHISD sought input through surveys, feedback forms, emails, and a town hall meeting. Community members voiced concerns about the length of the school day, instructional time, and the overall structure of the calendar. Based on this feedback, the final calendar maintains the integrity of instructional minutes while ensuring educators have dedicated planning time. Why an Innovative Hybrid Calendar? The Board carefully considered multiple factors in designing the 2025-26 calendar. With an anticipated $4.5 million budget reduction, the district must cut more than 50 positions. Teachers will see increased workloads, larger class sizes, and reduced classroom support. To address these challenges, specific Fridays have been designated as teacher workdays, giving educators valuable time for planning and collaboration. By implementing this hybrid approach, LHISD aims to: Provide teachers with essential time to plan lessons and complete required tasks. Reduce teacher fatigue and support retention of high-quality educators. Improve recruitment efforts. State Requirements and Calendar Details The state mandates that school districts provide a minimum 75,600 instructional minutes per year, with a minimum school day length of seven hours. While LHISD received waivers for professional development days, the approved calendar includes 160 instructional days (with an added 10 minutes each day) and 20 professional development days during the school year. This will allow the district to bank one bad-weather day.  Under the newly approved calendar: The first day of school will be  August 12, 2025 . December 19, 2025 , will be an early release day before winter break. The last day of school is set for  May 28, 2026 , with graduation on  May 29, 2026 . Based on feedback,  high school will start earlier than middle school  to reduce class time missed for extracurricular activities. Final start/end times will be determined by the end of the 2024-25 school year. LHISD remains committed to balancing the needs of students, teachers, and families while adapting to budgetary constraints. The Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees and the district thank the staff and the community for their engagement and input in shaping the 2025-26 academic calendar. To view the 2025-26 LHISD Academic Calendar,  click on this link.

Wednesday, Feb 19 2025

Liberty Hill ISD expands career counseling to all hi...

Liberty Hill High School is rolling out a new approach to student counseling aimed at fostering stronger relationships and better preparing students for life after high school. Lead Counselor Patti Coulter recently shared details about the updated strategy, which involves meeting one-on-one with students across all grade levels. Previously, counselors met individually with juniors and seniors but relied on quick group sessions for underclassmen. This year, the counseling team shifted gears, beginning personalized meetings with sophomores and freshmen to help students explore their interests and future goals earlier. “By meeting with students one-on-one, we can focus on their individual aspirations,” said Coulter. “We’re also introducing them to tools like SchooLinks, which helps with college, trade school, and career exploration.” The new model emphasizes the importance of high school electives as an opportunity to explore potential career paths. Freshmen and sophomores are now guided through course options in more detail to ensure they align with long-term interests. Students can work with counselors throughout the years to change their courses if their interests change, allowing opportunities for students to explore careers before committing to a path after high school.  The changes also extend to eighth-grade outreach. Counselors are working to provide middle school students with foundational knowledge about high school pathways, helping them make informed decisions early on. Coulter credits the school’s team collaboration for the program’s success “We want every student to feel valued and supported. Meeting one-on-one lets us build relationships and create a sense of belonging,” she said. With over 650 students in some grade levels, the task is challenging, but Coulter believes the effort is worth it. “It’s about making connections and giving students the tools they need to succeed, whether that’s in college, a trade, the military or the workforce.” The initiative is being implemented across Liberty Hill and its sister school, Legacy Ranch High School, ensuring consistent support for students district-wide.

Friday, Jan 24 2025

Student Spotlight: Liberty Hill Senior Animates Path...

Liberty Hill High School Senior Joshua Burgos Rivera is blending creativity and passion to bring his goals to life—one frame at a time. Joshua has been quite busy exploring different areas of interest as a member of the UIL digital animation team, tennis team, and National Honor Society, and he plans to pursue a career in animation. Now, he’s set his sights on Texas A&M University’s visualization program, a path inspired by a journey that began with simple stick-figure comics in middle school. “When my sister was eight years old and I was 10, we used to draw stick-figure comics to recap movies, and then she created her own original story,” said Joshua. “We ended up publishing a six-book comic series called  Penelope’s Adventure Club  as an eBook, and that sparked my dream of inspiring others through storytelling.”  After moving from Florida to Texas his junior year, Burgos Rivera discovered Liberty Hill High School’s animation program, which solidified his decision to pursue animation as a career. Recently, he showcased his skills in the “Take Care of Texas” video contest, creating a fully animated 30-second clip about water conservation. “I wanted to use my animation skills to make something compelling,” he said. “The statistics I learned, like how much water is wasted by leaving the faucet on while brushing your teeth, really put things into perspective.” Joshua drew inspiration from hybrid animation styles like those in the  Spider-Verse  series, blending 2D and 3D techniques. His ultimate goal is to work with major studios to create compelling stories that inspire others, just as he was inspired by animators he admired on YouTube. He is very appreciative for the support he's received from his parents, teachers and coaches, and encourages others to chase their dreams, saying, “If you visualize a goal and put in the work, you can achieve it; but if you don’t act on it, you won’t get there.” Check out Joshua’s animated video and place your vote in the “Take Care of Texas” contest before Friday!

Wednesday, Jan 22 2025

Liberty Hill ISD Earns State’s Highest Fiscal Accoun...

Liberty Hill Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “A - Superior Achievement” for the 2023-24 School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) for the eighth year at the Board meeting on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. The  “Superior Achievement” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Liberty Hill ISD’s financial management and reporting system.  School FIRST  is a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the  Texas Education Agency (TEA) . The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.  “I’d like to highlight that we have had two back-to-back audits [ September 2024 Efficiency Audit  and the November 2024 School FIRST rating] that prove that we are not wasting money or mismanaging funds,” said Board Trustee Chris Neighbors.  Board Vice President Kathy Major continued, “Our state leadership has said openly that schools are mismanaging funds; this is the state assessment, and according to this, we are superior in our efficiency and we are free of any material weaknesses. People also say we are top heavy in administration, yet we are below the state average, and these administrators are working as more than one person, without being compensated for it. Finally, we have been accused of not being transparent, but all of the monthly financial reports and efficiency audits are on our website for anyone to read. I am so proud of our financial department. I will not entertain any more insults that we are wasting or being frivolous with our funds.” To view these audits, please visit our  Financial Reports website .  The TEA developed School FIRST in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999 and amendments under House Bill 5, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. TEA assigned one of four financial accountability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “A” for “Superior Achievement,” followed by “B” for “Above-Standard Achievement,” “C” for “Standard Achievement” and “F” for “Substandard Achievement.” 

Tuesday, Nov 19 2024

You're Invited: Town Hall Tuesday - Tomorrow Night

Hello LHISD families!  Haven't been able to attend a coffee chat or check out a Town Hall Tuesday because of your schedule? Well, we'd love to invite you to a Town Hall Tuesday tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. at Liberty Hill Middle School. Mr. Snell will be sharing district updates as well as information about the upcoming election. Please let us know if you can be there (via the RSVP below) so we can prepare for everyone to come! We hope to see you there and we hope you had a fabulous long weekend! 

Monday, Oct 14 2024

Texas educators, it’s your time to shine! Apply now ...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas —H-E-B is now accepting applications for the  2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards , which awards cash prizes to educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and their communities. All state-certified public school educators currently teaching in Texas, as well as Texas early childhood education centers/schools, are eligible to apply before December 2, 2024 at  heblovesteachers.com/apply/ .   The 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards categories include:  Teacher School Counselor Principal Early Childhood Facility School Board School District Since 2002, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program has awarded more than $14 million in funding to finalists, winners and their schools.  “The H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards is more than just recognition—it’s an opportunity for teachers, counselors, and administrators to win cash prizes and matching grants for their schools,” Jill Reynolds, H-E-B Public Affairs Manager, said. “An application can lead to funding that has impactful benefits for educators, their students and community.”  Every year, H-E-B accepts nominations for the Excellence in Education Awards before applications open. While a nomination is not required to apply for an award, a nomination lets an educator know they are appreciated and encouraged to apply for the awards program. Nominees will receive an emailed invitation to apply and must submit an application to be considered for the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. Individuals who nominated an educator can encourage them to apply as well. Finalists and winners will be selected by a panel of judges composed of educators, administrators and community leaders throughout the state. Ten winners—six teachers, two counselors and two principals—along with an early childhood facility, public school board and two school districts, will be announced at an awards ceremony in May 2025. Each award recipient’s school will also receive a matching grant.  In 2024, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program distributed over $780,000  in cash and grants to educators and schools. Through this program, H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile each day to serve their students and communities and who inspire others to do the same. To apply, visit  heblovesteachers.com/apply/ .  Eligibility  Eligibility is not dependent on proximity to H-E-B store locations.   Teachers who have been previously selected as statewide winners are not eligible to reapply until they have entered a new award category based on years of experience. Teachers who have been chosen as a statewide finalist must wait at least one year before reapplying. School district, early childhood and school board winners are not eligible to reapply. Finalists in these categories must wait at least one year before re-applying. About the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards  Each year, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program awards cash prizes to honor outstanding public school professionals, and to thank them for their dedication and commitment. Through this program, H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile every day to serve their students and their communities and who inspire others to do the same.  Since the program’s inception in 2002, H-E-B has awarded more than $14 million in funding to outstanding Texas teachers, counselors, principals, public schools, early childhood centers, school boards and school districts. To learn more, visit  HEBLovesTeachers.com .

Thursday, Oct 10 2024

Liberty Hill ISD is at a Breaking Point: Doing More ...

The Liberty Hill Independent School District (LHISD) Board of Trustees received a financial efficiency audit review from Moak Casey at the Sept. 16, 2024 board meeting. The independent efficiency auditor found that LHISD is facing financial challenges that will impact the current education and extracurricular programming provided to students.  House Bill 3 (86th Legislative Session) generally requires school districts' board of trustees to conduct an efficiency audit before conducting a Voter Approval Tax-Rate Election such as the School Funding Election that LHISD trustees have called for this November. The Legislative Budget Board has released guidelines that govern what must be included in a district’s efficiency audit. As the district prepares for the upcoming school funding election, the independent efficiency audit report shows the underlying reasons why the district needs additional revenue. This article breaks down the key factors driving the district’s current financial strain and why the board of trustees selected to go out for an election in November 2024. Tax Rate Comparison Through elections, many nearby districts have increased their rates, resulting in higher local revenues that directly support school operations. These districts have passed elections, allowing them to add "pennies" to their tax rate, providing them with financial flexibility. LHISD has not yet raised local tax rates through elections, so these peer districts receive more funding per student than we do.  Revenue Shortfall When property value increases, the state’s proportional contribution decreases. Because there is a gap between the property tax rate and the state's contributions, the district realized a $2 million deficit this school year. The efficiency audit report showed that LHISD receives significantly less funding per student compared to peer districts. Districts with larger populations in categories like special education (SPED), bilingual, career and technology, and economically disadvantaged students receive additional state funding, which LHISD lacks in proportion. As a result, our revenue per student falls below both peer districts and the state average, creating a financial strain as we work to meet the diverse needs of our students. Operating Expenditures Despite the revenue challenges, the audit shows that LHISD operates with financial efficiency as the district’s operating expenditures are lower than those of peer districts and the state average. The largest portion of these expenditures goes toward instruction, maintenance and operations, school counselors, mental health services, and specialized staff such as special education diagnosticians and speech-language pathologists. “We choose to make sure our kids are mentally healthy,” said LHISD Board Vice President Kathy Major. “Because if they aren’t mentally healthy, then they can’t learn what’s before them.”  While we have been able to stretch our resources; however, the district’s ability to maintain this efficiency is not viable. Teacher and Administrative Salaries A critical area affected by this revenue shortfall is staff compensation. The audit report showed that the average  teacher base salary at LHISD is below that of peer districts and the state average, making it difficult to retain and attract qualified educators. This discrepancy extends to administrative salaries, which are also lower compared to peer districts. Despite our efforts to be resource-efficient, the disparity in salaries is unsustainable as we compete with higher-paying districts for top talent. “Every cut we make is more work on our teachers,” said Superintendent Steve Snell. “We already pay our staff less than school districts our size in Texas, to make any additional cuts would mean more work on our teachers that are under the strain of state mandates and deserve more money, while handling the challenges of today's classroom.” Unsustainable Fund Balance The efficiency audit demonstrated that while the district once maintained enough funds to cover three months of operating expenses, rising costs due to growth and inflation have outpaced revenue, eroding the district’s financial savings. Though the district’s student population continues to grow, bringing in additional state funding, the increase in revenue does not match the rising costs of educating more students. Compounding this issue, as property values rise, the state contributes a smaller share of funding, placing a proportionally larger burden on local taxpayers and the district. “Whether you have kids in public school or not, it’s a privilege that the local government can step in and choose to help students in our district when we don’t have enough money coming in from the state right now,” said LHISD Board President Megan Parsons.  A Breaking Point LHISD is doing everything possible to make the most of its resources, including seeking additional grants and funding to support the needs of its students. However, the district is at a breaking point, where “doing more with less” is no longer a sustainable option. Without the passage of the upcoming school funding election, LHISD faces the possibility of severe budget cuts, diminishing the current educational programs and extracurricular opportunities offered to students.  To learn more about the school funding election, visit   www.LHvotes.com .

Tuesday, Sep 17 2024

Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees Names Executive D...

LIBERTY HILL, Texas – The Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees was pleased to announce the hiring of the district’s new Executive Director of Technology Gregg Burcham during the Sept. 9, 2024 special-called board meeting . With a dynamic career spanning strategic planning, project implementation, classroom instruction, and team management, Gregg is set to lead the organization in delivering high-quality technological solutions that meet the evolving needs of our district. Gregg holds a Bachelor of Science degree, graduating magna cum laude, from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX, in 2002. Over the course of his career, he has built a multifaceted skill set, with 24 years of experience spanning across educational and non-educational environments. Most recently, he served as the director for networking and technology services for Little Elm ISD.  His passion for technology leadership, combined with his dedication to driving innovation in IT, makes him an excellent fit for this new role.  As a certified leader in education technology and IT management, Mr. Burcham is poised to guide Liberty Hill ISD through new and exciting technological advancement. Gregg grew up in rural Kansas where he learned the values of hard work, community and the importance of public education. After graduating from college, he began his career as a technology teacher. “My experiences have fueled my passion for public education, and I have dedicated myself to creating innovative learning opportunities for students," said Burcham. Gregg believes that public education is the foundation of our society. He strives daily to implement solutions that will result in better outcomes for generations to come. “I am honored to join Liberty Hill ISD and partner with the incredible Technology team to enhance educational experiences for students and empower educators,” said Burcham. “Together, we will design innovative and scalable solutions to foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills necessary for our students in this digital age.” Greg, his family, and their dog, Lucy,  moved to Texas Hill Country where he can be close to family and enjoy being part of Liberty Hill ISD. His wife has also worked in education for 20 years, currently working for an educational service center.  Outside of work Gregg enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball and rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs. Welcome to the LHISD family, Gregg!

Wednesday, Sep 11 2024