By CASSIE MCKEE, FOUR POINTS NEWS

In the five years since Hill Country Education Foundation was first started, it has raised nearly $400,000 for local schools in Four Points, as well as some district-wide LISD initiatives. The foundation is now hoping to raise $20,000 through its fall giving campaign, which kicked off Oct. 1 and will run through mid-November. In its second week, HCEF has reached 36 percent of its goal.

John Pasquarette, HCEF board member and chairman of the fall giving campaign, said the fall campaign was created to give the community another opportunity to get involved. He said the HCEF annual gala, held every February, has quickly grown in popularity. Last year’s event at the Oasis Restaurant sold out of its 380 tickets in about one week.

“The fall giving campaign is another outlet for people to be able to give who aren’t able to go to gala,” Pasquarette said. “This is another opportunity for us to make it clear that all the goodness from the foundation comes from private donations.”

One of many Hill Country Education Foundation grant patrol stops at Canyon Ridge Middle School in years past.

HCEF’s primary focus is to fund educational and college-readiness programs within the elementary and middle schools that feed into Vandegrift High School, as well as programs at VHS.

Continue reading →

The Broe family — Kevin and Janel with children (L-R) Carson, Pierce, Forrest and Julianne — earlier this year at the Pierce Your Heart benefit in River Place on Valentine’s Day.

At Pierce Broe’s service, his father, Kevin, shared their family’s hope for Pierce’s legacy.

I tell my children that I know the secret of life. In fact, it’s an advantage that I can give them over other children. My children know the secret of life. In the spirit of community that we have in God’s presence, I’m going to share it with everyone here today.

The secret of life is that happiness is a choice. It’s as simple as that. No person, thing or event can make you feel a certain way without your conscious decision to do so. Now it turns out, there are a few exceptions to this rule, and a loved one dying —​ especially a son, or a brother, or a friend —​ is certainly an exception.

So in this time of incredible sadness and loss, it’s natural to struggle with the question, “Why did God let this happen to a child so young and innocent? Why?” There is no answer to this question.

The truth is we simply don’t know. So today, I’m going to ask you to accept the call to action. Continue reading →

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Pierce Broe
2002 – 2014

The chapel at St. Thomas More Catholic Church was full to overflowing as the Four Points community showed up in droves to honor Pierce Broe and his family at his funeral on Friday, October 10.

Hearts were also overflowing —​ with grief for Pierce’s death, with love for the Broe family, and with joy and gratitude for a life too short but full of grace.

And so it was that the service began, with “Amazing Grace,” followed by a moving rendition of “Be Not Afraid.”

Father Isidore Ndagizimana led the service, and said that God would want those missing Pierce to do three things: to grieve, to let go and to be grateful.

For his family, his friends, even those who Pierce’s life touched peripherally, it was apparent the grief will not soon pass, even as they work to let go of this “child of God,” as Ndagizimana reminded the mourners. Gratitude, however, was in abundant supply.

The sheer number of kids who attended in tribute to their friend —​ Pierce’s football teammates, Boy Scouts and friends from school —​ gave the Broe family much to be grateful for.

The family did not waste the opportunity to further the cause of inspiration. Pierce inspired many in his 12 years, and it is his family’s deepest wish that he continue to do so even in death. Kevin Broe, Pierce’s father, spoke during the service (see sidebar for excerpt) while Pierce’s mom, Janel, stood behind him, offering the strength and support this family has come to embody. Continue reading →

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Growth in Leander Independent School District has slowed, according to the annual demographic update presented by Population and Survey Analysts to the LISD board of trustees meeting in its regular session on Thursday.

PASA representative, Stacey Tepera, told trustees at the Oct. 9 meeting that deceleration was unexpected.

LISD board president, Pamela Waggoner, interpreted the slow down as “good news” saying it gives the District time to “get some things paid for… and build the tax base.”

Even with deceleration, using state enrollment projections, PASA predicted the district’s student population would continue to grow, increasing from the current 36,192 to 49,572 by the year 2024.

The group also projected a need for as many as 10, possibly 11, new schools by the same time. Two of those schools, Elementary School No. 25 and High School No. 6, are currently under construction. The possibility of another middle school, No. 10, is not slated until 2024.

Trustees commissioned PASA to analyze the 200-square-mile LISD service area for long-range planning purposes. PASA, located in College Station, is the largest demographic firm in Texas. Its forecasts are based on school district information, student residential locations, housing trends, and economic factors.

This map shows the total student enrollment this fall of Austin area schools including Leander ISD’s student population of 36,192. LISD added 742 new students in 2014 — more than any other Austin area district.
Data compiled by Population & Survey Analysts

Continue reading →