I hope this email finds you doing well and enjoying summer. I know our district and campus leadership teams enjoyed a well-deserved break earlier this month and are now back and in full planning mode for the new school year. I know many of you are also beginning to think about the new school year, too, and wanted to share some important updates to help you with that. 

Last night during the GISD board meeting, our trustees announced a lone finalist for our next superintendent.  We’re excited to welcome Dr. Devin Padavil to Georgetown from nearby Taylor ISD.  He has extensive experience in public education and in central Texas, and we look forward to him joining Team GISD soon. Dr. Padavil is expected to begin his new role following the mandatory 21-day waiting period, and the board is expected to take action on his hire during an August 7th meeting.  You can learn more about Dr. Padavil on our website in the official announcement. 

The board also heard the latest demographer’s report last night regarding growth and enrollment in Georgetown ISD. I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that Georgetown remains one of the fastest-growing communities in central Texas, and we anticipate that trend to continue for some time. Projects funded with the 2021 bond are well underway with many nearing completion, and we continue to review and consider future needs as we plan for a growing student population. If you’re interested in learning more about the demographer’s report or bond projects, you’ll find details by clicking on the links provided. 

Board Briefs are produced monthly following each board meeting and include a high-level overview of outcomes from the meeting. We post them online and include them in eNews. Starting with the July edition of eNews, you’ll be able to view briefs from both board meetings and board workshops. I encourage you to look for them in this Thursday’s edition. You can also view recordings of our meetings and workshops on our website at www.georgetownisd.org/board. 

As a reminder, STAAR scores for end-of-course (EOC) assessments were released in late June and are now available on the Texas Assessment website and in Skyward. Instructions for accessing your student's scores can be found at https://www.georgetownisd.org/Page/25663. STAAR scores for 3rd-8th grade tests will be available on the Texas Assessment website on August 16th. 

If you are unable to access your student's scores through Skyward or the Texas Assessment website, please reach out to your student's campus.

Our transportation team shared information recently with families about a change in the non-service area for bus riders, expanding it from 1 to 2 miles. We know that has generated some questions and appreciate your patience as the team reviews routes and works to notify families. If your family is impacted by that change, you will receive an email this week directly from transportation. All students who are eligible for transportation will receive their specific route information in August. 

As we think about helping you prepare for back-to-school, be sure to check out our back-to-school hub online at www.georgetownisd.org/backtoschool.  There, you will find information on enrollment, school supply lists, back-to-school events, and more.  This information is being updated regularly so check back often, and be sure to look for emails from your child’s campus as well! 

Additionally, here are a few important dates to help you plan:

• August 5 - School Supply Distribution Event
  Hosted by the Georgetown Cultural Citizens Memorial Association (GCCMA)
  Carver Center for Families
  9 am-Noon

• August 7 - First day for all staff

• August 8 - GISD Convocation and Business Fair

• August 17
  First day of school for students

If you have campus-specific questions, I encourage you to reach out to your child’s campus, as principals and registrars are back and ready to help. Give them a call or send your questions via Let’s Talk. We’re excited for the new school year ahead and the opportunities it will bring for our district and community to work together to support our students and their success. 

Sincerely,
Lindsay Harris
Chief Strategist and Interim Superintendent