🌱 Construction At Park Place Park + LISD Losing State Funding?

Up and at 'em, Cedar Park-Leander! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Sunny, windy and less humid. High: 69 Low: 31.

Here are the top 3 stories in Cedar Park-Leander today:

1. Capital Metro announced that there will be construction on the Capital Metro railroad at the right of way on the west side of Park Place Park between 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, and 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23 to improve drainage in the area. Since a section of the railroad must be removed to replace the existing timber bridge with a concrete box culvert, the work must be done within 74 hours. Capital Metro warns that there "will likely be more noise than usual during the nighttime hours." (Press Release Desk)
2. The Leander Independent School District (LISD) could lose state funding of up to $14.8 million if student absences continue. Superintendent Bruce Gearing said "attendance rates plummeted" after the latest surge of COVID-19 cases. State funding is based on student attendance, and the district could see "a funding deficit" if attendance does not increase, Gearing noted. (KVUE)
3. Makayla Lambert, a senior at Rouse High School in Leander and a student journalist, talked to the Texas Standard about her report on current issues affecting students for PBS NewsHour. Makayla began to speak at the school board meetings where the pandemic, racial justice issues, equity reform, and trans student rights were debated. Makayla hopes other students "can find that they have a voice and that they can go and talk about things that really affect them to the school board." (Texas Standard)

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Today in Cedar Park-Leander:

• Good Earth Farm School At 10820 East Crystal Falls Parkway (7:15 AM)
• Early Voting For March 1 Primaries At Cedar Park Public Library (8:00 AM)
• Move-N-Groove Storytime At Leander Public Library (10:45 AM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a new house? Check out the details of these five open houses in the local area! (Cedar Park-Leander Patch)
• Congratulations to the Leander ISD Educational Excellence Foundation, which just won a 2021 Top-Rated Award from GreatNonprofits! (Facebook)
• This week's "random read" by Cedar Park Public Library is "The Way of the House Husband" a graphic novel by Kousuke Oono. Click here to learn more about this unique story. (Facebook)

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Events:

• Social Security Seminar (February 24)
• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
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That's it for today! See you tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!