Liberty Hill ISD approves attendance boundaries, advances multiple school expansions and new-build progress
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Summary
Following extensive committee work and community input, trustees approved attendance boundary changes for 2026–27 and approved schematic designs for expansions at Bill Burton, Rancho Sienna and Santa Rita elementary schools; Legacy Ranch High School is roughly 92% complete.
Trustees approved a package of attendance-boundary adjustments and greenlit schematic designs for three elementary-school expansions at their Feb. 16 meeting as the district balances growth, new schools and bond-funded construction.
After a months-long process that included a parent advisory committee, two town halls and more than 2,000 survey responses, the board approved recommended boundaries for the 2026–27 school year. The plan keeps the previously adopted high-school split (west of U.S. 183 feeds Liberty Hill High School; east feeds Legacy Ranch High School) and reallocates some elementary neighborhoods to balance enrollments. Tierra Rosa Elementary will receive two portables to raise capacity to 920 while the district continues to monitor growth ahead of Saddleback Elementary’s opening in Aug. 2027.
Operations reported progress on major bond projects: Legacy Ranch High School is just over 92% complete with substantial completion targeted for June 2026; Lariat Trails Elementary (elementary #8) is on track for substantial completion in May 2026 and school opening in Aug. 2026; several stadium and high-school renovations are scheduled to be finished for the 2026–27 school year.
The board also approved schematic designs for expansions at Bill Burton Elementary (adding classrooms, a cafeteria expansion, full HVAC replacement and kitchen upgrades) and for Rancho Sienna and Santa Rita (stacked five-classroom wing additions and flexible common/library spaces). Architects said designs were informed by site utility constraints (including geothermal fields at some campuses), traffic flow and a desire to minimize construction disruption; trustees probed phasing, bus/pickup logistics and courtyard impacts.
Financially, the district reported a successful $20 million bond sale on Feb. 10 that was heavily oversubscribed and locked a favorable effective interest rate, improving debt structure and capacity for upcoming projects. Superintendent Travis Motall noted enrollment at 10,508 and emphasized planning with updated demography: "We're working to stay proactive and ahead of the growth as we prepare for that," he said.
Trustees approved the attendance boundaries and schematic designs by voice vote. District staff said they will continue to refine design details with principals and contractors, prepare GMP (guaranteed maximum price) requests and coordinate construction phasing to minimize operational disruption.
Next steps: finalize GMPs, return for construction approvals and continue community communications about boundary moves and projected timelines.
