By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

In the state’s new accountability ranking system, Vandegrift High School received special academic distinction in four categories: Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gap, Postsecondary Readiness, Academic Achievement in Math, and Academic Achievement in Science.

To receive a distinction, a school must score in the top 25 percent of its comparison group – each comparison group is made up of 40 schools from across the state with similar demographics. The top 25 percent schools are known as quartile 1, or Q1. VHS principal Charlie Little said VHS’s comparison group makes up some of the top public schools in the state.

“I am extremely proud of our staff and students for their exceptional performance this year,” said Little.  “We are excited and welcome the chance to be ranked and compared to the 40 of the best high schools in Texas. The use of the comparison group for accountability requires us to be savvy with our data review. Sometimes, it is only a fraction of a percentage point that separates a Quartile 4 from a Quartile 1 ranking.”

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Parents of two students in two different Leander ISD schools are frustrated with incidents that happened during their childrens’ ride home from the first day of school on Monday, and say they’re not satisfied with the response from the schools or Leander ISD.

In one incident, a sixth-grade girl attending Four Points Middle School was put on the wrong bus and later dropped off at “an isolated River Place location with few houses and a construction site,” according to the girl’s mom.

Her parents, who wish to remain anonymous, said they were “were absolutely shaken to the core.”

“How can they just drop off a kid in a random, remote location without telling the parent,” the mom asks, calling the incident “unbelievable.”

The girl’s parents want to alert other parents to better coach their children on how to handle something similar situations. It was their daughter’s cell phone that allowed her to communicate with them that she was on the wrong bus.

In another incident, a kindergartner from Winkley Elementary who fell asleep on the ride home, received cuts and bruises after the bus stopped abruptly, throwing the girl into the seatback in front of her. Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

River Place residents are preparing for a jolt on their upcoming water and wastewater bills, as rates are expected to double beginning October 1.

The Austin Water Utility takes over the water and wastewater service from the River Place Municipal Utility District on October 1, as part of the Strategic Partnership Agreement approved by the City and the MUD in 2009. It is one step in the process of the community being annexed by the city of Austin.

The current cost of these services from the city of Austin is more than twice what the MUD charges, according to River Place MUD President Jim Casey.

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By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Fashion designer Linda Asaf has been a part of the Austin fashion scene for 10 years, working out of her design studio in downtown Austin. Having a passion for promoting the Texas fashion industry, Asaf recently opened her own retail shop known as Design Lab, located in the Oasis, Texas development.

“​Everyone is so excited to have a concept like this in Austin ​,” ​said Linda Asaf ​, who brought together 27 designers under one roof at the Design Lab. Peter Tung Photography 

Beyond Asaf’s own ready-to-wear and swimwear/resort collections, Design Lab currently features over 20 unique Texas-based designers.

“The pool of talented Texas designers has been growing and gaining momentum steadily over the years,” said Asaf.  “I am so proud to bring this community together in one place for the first time and to showcase all their amazing creativity.  It’s a must see for everyone who appreciates original design and supports local talent.”

Design Lab, at 6550 Comanche Trail, Suite 106, celebrated its grand opening on August 14 with all 27 designers there to showcase their unique creations.

“I can’t think of a time in the 15 years that I’ve lived in Austin that so many fashion designers were under one roof at one time,” Asaf said.

Design Lab, at Oasis, Texas, celebrated its grand opening on Thursday with all 27 designers there to showcase their creations. L-R Julie Brown, Daniel Esquivel, Project Runway designer, Ilonka, designer, and Adrienne Yunger, designer. Peter Tung Photography

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