By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Due to public education cuts made by the Texas Legislature in 2011, Leander ISD is now having to make some restructuring changes, which will go into effect in the fall. Changes will include some revisions to elementary school fine arts curriculums and middle school student/teacher ratios.

Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion during a presentation last fall. Photo by Scott W. Coleman

“You probably remember that in the spring of 2011, Leander ISD, along with the majority of Texas public school districts, discussed at great length how the Texas Legislature significantly reduced our budgets,” Champion wrote in a February district update. “In LISD, we faced about $22 million in cuts (and were restored only about $5 million in the last legislative session). That spring, the district gathered feedback where we could reduce our expenses.”

One element of the restructuring will be the combining of music and theater arts curriculums for elementary school students. Up until now, elementary schools have had three fine arts strands – visual arts, music and theater arts. Beginning in the fall, the music and theater arts curriculums will be combined into one strand.

For example, Steiner Ranch Elementary music teacher Laura Elorreaga will be going into a grade level classroom to teach.

Veronica Sopher, Leander ISD executive director of school/community relations.

“The community of fine arts teachers will be working with our fine arts director to write curriculum to combine the two together using the same model that almost every other district in the state of Texas utilizes,” said LISD district spokesperson Veronica Sopher.

“We’re looking at how to embed all those TEKS that are required by the state to ensure kids are not only getting those but able to complement each other in those skill sets. It will include instruction and opportunities for appreciation and performance in both music and theater,” Sopher said.

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

NRP Group LLC is building 302 apartment units, in 18 three-story buildings at 4800 Steiner Ranch Blvd. with the first units to be available by early next year.

“(The project) does not have a name yet. We are conducting market surveys and going through a branding effort to come up with something that fits within Steiner community and greater northwest Austin,” said Mark Jensen, vice president of development and based in the San Antonio offices of NRP Group.

Jensen has been working on the project a little over a year now. NRP closed on the property in February.

NRP rendering of the pool area.

Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Turning right when the arrows are red at RM 620 and RM 2222 is legal.

Since being installed by the Texas Department of Transportation several months ago, the red right-turn arrows at the intersection of RM 620 and RM 2222 have created confusion for drivers, who were first told it was illegal to turn right when the arrows were red. A spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety has now confirmed that initial understanding was incorrect, since there is not a posted sign specifically stating that a right turn on red is prohibited.

“It is not illegal to turn right on a red arrow unless there is a posted sign,” said Lisa Cortinas, public information officer for Austin Police Department.

Because the traffic signal is now under the city of Austin’s jurisdiction, it is the city’s decision whether to put up a “no turn on red sign” at the light; however, Cheyenne Krause, a spokesperson for the City of Austin’s Transportation Department said the city does not have any plans to do so.

RM 620 and RM 2222 at the dual-turn lane.

“Usually, you restrict right on red movement when there are high pedestrian volumes or limited line of sight; this area doesn’t have either of these two conditions,” Krause said. “Currently, the city has no plans to put in a ‘no right turn on red’ sign at that intersection.”

She said the city has not received any complaints about the red arrows at that intersection and its engineers have visited the area and reviewed traffic data including incident reports.

Residents were confused about the rules of the intersection once the dual right-turn lane was finished. In February, Long Canyon resident Michelle Michel emailed TxDOT regarding the rules, asking if making a right turn when the signal is a red, right arrow is legal.

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Four Points Against More Traffic has collected more than 1,000 signatures on its petition to help fight a rezoning request for 11108 Zimmerman Ln.

“We have over 1,000 signatures between ink signatures and website signatures,” said Marc Chase, a River Place resident who started the Four Points Against More Traffic petition.

Last week the City of Austin Planning & Development Committee recommended not to rezone the property around 11108 Zimmerman Ln. based on environmental concerns, safety issues, and opposition from those living on the residential street, according to Chase.

“This is great news,” he said. “However, this case will still be presented to council for a vote and we will show a strong presence at this hearing.”

11108 Zimmerman Ln.

On February 25, a rezoning request was filed by Foundation Communities to build a new 124-unit affordable housing apartment complex at 11108 Zimmerman Ln. The 8.9 acres of land, not far from Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ, is currently zoned as single-family residential.

Chase owns Kailey Development which is developing the Preserve at Zimmerman Lane ​—nine, single-family lots with four homes built across from the proposed apartment project.

There have been previous requests for zoning changes on Zimmerman Lane that have been denied and this latest move stays consistent with those recommendations, Chase said.

The request to rezone 11108 Zimmerman Ln. is set to go before the Austin City Council in late May or early June. Marc Chase hopes to have 2,500 signatures on the Four Points Against More Traffic petition by that meeting. He is advertising in creative ways along RM 620.

Continue reading →