Leander ISD trustees recognized Brenda Edwards, Canyon Ridge Middle School athletic coordinator and health and PE teacher, for earning the 2016 Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Champion award. The award was given to six recipients from across the state for their work in a school, district or in the community. The board recognized Edwards (in the middle) in September.

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Brenda Edwards, Canyon Ridge Middle School athletic coordinator and health and physical education teacher, was one of six others from around the state recognized with an award on Dec. 1 for helping children develop healthy habits.

“I am very honored to be a 2016 CATCH Champion,” Edwards said.

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Maralee Schmidt of Steiner Ranch qualified for the 2017 National Senior Games Competition, also known as the Senior Olympics. She is pictured with her husband Scott.

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Maralee Schmidt of Steiner Ranch finished the Texas Senior Games 5K race in less than 24 minutes to win first place in her age group and qualify for the 2017 National Senior Games Competition, also known as the Senior Olympics.

Schmidt crossed the finish line in 23 minutes and 46 seconds at the race held in San Antonio this past April. She finished almost three seconds before her closest competitor and second overall among women in all age groups 50 and older.

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153 VHS students in IB

Staff Reports

The International Baccalaureate program is gaining depth in Leander ISD as more students receive diplomas and as Vandegrift ramps up its new IB offerings.

Vandegrift is in the authorization phase to become the district’s second IB Diploma Programme. This fall, 153 students began their ninth-grade year with the intention of becoming VHS’s first IB diploma class in 2020.

“This is the most rigorous academic opportunity for high school students, and we are pleased that more students are successfully pursuing the prestigious IB diploma,” said Leander ISD Superintendent Dan Troxell.

The only other IB high school in the district is Leander High School, and 87 percent of LHS’s class of 2016 International Baccalaureate diploma candidates received their IB diploma.

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Construction could begin by late 2018 if funds are in place

By CASSIE MCKEE,
Four Points News

Following the approval of a $720 million mobility bond by Austin voters in November, Four Points’ representatives are hoping to get the ball moving quickly on projects such as the RM 620/RM 2222 connector project, also known as the bypass.

“This infusion of money enables us to move forward much more quickly on this project than previously estimated,” said Kelli Reyna, public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation Austin District. “More money to the table ultimately means more projects getting approved and built, and this would not have been possible without the cooperation and partnership with the city of Austin and the voters who approved the 2016 Mobility Bond.”

Included in the mobility bond funding is $101 million for regional mobility projects. Of that amount, $30 million is earmarked for projects in District 6 that would increase pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular mobility. The District 6 projects outlined on the ballot included:

• Anderson Mill Road from Spicewood Parkway to US Hwy 183,

• Intersection of RM 620 and RM 2222, and

• Parmer Lane between SH 45 to Brushy Creek Road.

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